Ellafitz rolled to a 4 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Paseana H. Jan. 15 at Santa Anita Park to give the 5-year-old daughter of WinStar Farm stallion Tiznow her second straight stakes win. The bay mare won the Grade 2 Bayakoa H. at Hollywood Park in early December.
The 1 1/16-mile Paseana was decided on the far turn. Prior to that, Ellafitz held a half-length lead under some pressure after a half-mile in :46.44 seconds. Jockey Martin Garcia let his mount edge away at the three furlong marker, then widened in the stretch to get the distance in 1:43.67 on a “fast” track.
“I just let her run,” Garcia said. “When I had a chance, I let her open up. She’s been running so good. This is the toughest she’s been.”
Ellafitz has won 5 of 13 starts and $277,957 for owner D and E Racing. She could return next for the $200,000 Santa Maria S. on Feb. 18.
Tiznow has got off to an excellent start in 2012, with three stakes horses in the first two weeks of the year. The 2-time Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner will stand this season for $75,000 LFS&N.
