Got Koko Has What It Takes for a Sweep

Got Koko continues to prove that a quality horse doesn’t have to cost a small fortune.

A $30,000 yearling purchase by Bruce Headley and restaurateur Paul Leung, the Texas-bred daughter of Signal Tap became only the third 4-year-old filly to sweep Santa Anita’s La Canada series on Saturday.

In joining Taisez Vous (1978) and Mitterand (1985) as the only horses to complete a hat trick that begins with the La Brea Stakes, continues with the El Encino and ends with the La Canada, Got Koko had anything but an easy time.

With about a quarter-mile to go, in fact, it looked as though she might be in big trouble.

Showing tenacity under jockey Alex Solis, Got Koko wore down 9-10 favorite and pacesetter Sightseek in deep stretch and went on to win by three-quarters of a length.

In winning for the sixth time in 10 starts overall and sixth in seven races on the dirt, Got Koko completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 2/5. The 2-1 second choice, she paid $6.20. The winner’s share of the $200,000 purse increased her career earnings to $452,946.

It was no great surprise she was not the public choice. Despite her sparkling record, Got Koko has never been favored.

“It’s quite a moment,” said Headley. “I’m very proud. I love this filly. I never lost faith, but I knew she was in a horse race with two great fillies [Sightseek and third-place finisher Bella Bellucci]. I knew it was going to be a duel in the sun and it really was.

“We’re proud to make history. This isn’t quite like winning the Breeders’ Cup [the 2000 Sprint] with Kona Gold, but it is pretty close. We’re all extremely happy.”

Brought back in two weeks after finishing second as the favorite to Affluent in the Santa Monica Handicap at seven furlongs, Sightseek set a relatively comfortable pace under jockey Patrick Valenzuela and wound up 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Bella Bellucci, who was a no-excuse third.

The win was the second in the La Canada for Solis. He hopes Got Koko runs the rest of the year like the filly he won the race with in 1996. Jewel Princess, who defeated Dixie Pearl and Privity, among others, seven years ago, went on to win the Eclipse Award as the nation’s top older filly or mare.

“She’s amazing, incredible,” said Solis. “I always thought she would get there with that long stride she has. She knows where the wire is. I knew she’d give me her best from the quarter-pole.

“She had to work today. This might not even have been her best race. I thought she was awesome when she won the La Brea” at 17-1 on Dec. 28.

Second for most of the trip, Bella Bellucci finished three lengths clear of 15-1 shot Bare Necessities, then it was 17 lengths back to Revenante.

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Before making another trip to California to ride Composure in the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes, jockey Jerry Bailey managed to win one of the two Grade III stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Bailey and 11-10 favorite Allamerican Bertie rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Sabin Handicap. It was the seventh win in 13 starts for the 4-year-old Quiet American filly, who is owned by Bertram, Elaine and Richard Klein and trained by Steve Flint. She ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 2/5. Small Promises was second and Redoubled Miss third in the field of 11.

Earlier, San Dare, a 6-1 shot, rallied from far back to win the $100,000 Very One Handicap. Mark Guidry was aboard the winner for trainer Rick Hiles and she ran the 1 3/8 miles on turf in 2:13 3/5.

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Boston Park, a 7-1 shot, led throughout to win the $75,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct.

Trained by Wayne Lukas for Bill Young’s Overbrook Farm, the 3-year-old Boston Harbor colt ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 3/5. Grey Comet, who had been unbeaten in four starts, was second and favored Torre And Zim was fifth in the field of six.