Oaks News

Gomez, who won a pair of stakes on New Year's Day, extended his 2007 streak at the track to three early in the afternoon when he rode 3-1 second choice Baroness Thatcher to victory in the Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

In her first start for trainer Patrick Biancone, Baroness Thatcher held off Runway Rosie in the final furlong of the mile-and-one-sixteenth event to win by one-half length while covering the distance in 1:44.31. It was 5 ½ lengths back to 6-5 favorite Mistical Plan in third.

After racing four times in the East and winning once for trainer Dale Romans, Baroness Thatcher joined Biancone's West Coast string. The 40th running of the Santa Ysabel marked her first start since Oct. 29 when finishing sixth in the Grade III Pocahontas at Churchill Downs.

"She has been training very well since she's been here," said Thomas Brandebourger, Biancone's assistant trainer. "Garrett (Gomez) knew her from before (a maiden race victory at Keeneland on Oct. 7). He knew how to ride her."

Baroness Thatcher paid $8.60, $4.80 and $3. Runway Rosie, ridden by Richard Migliore, paid $6.20 and $3.20. Mistical Plan, with Corey Nakatani aboard, returned $2.40 to show.

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