Thegirlinthatsong, a Texas-bred daughter of Texas stallion My Golden Song, scored an impressive victory on Saturday as she defeated millionaire Lexie Lou in the Grade 2, $200,500 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Sent off at 6-1 odds with Rafael Bejarano riding for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the 4-year-old filly drove clear to a 4 ¼-length win in the 1 1/16-mile contest on the main track. The Texas-bred earned the richest payday of her career with a $120,000 first-place check, and her earnings now stand at $407,695 with a record of 19-5-4-4.
“She’s been training well here and we were looking for a good effort from her,” said Hollendorfer. “I think Rafael wanted to stay back a little more than what I wanted him. I asked him to stay as close as he could and be comfortable, so he did that, and that ended up working out well.”
Bred by the late Clarence Scharbauer Jr. at his Valor Farm near Pilot Point, Texas, which is also the home of My Golden Song, Thegirlinthatsong is out of the Dixieland Band mare Belle of the Band. The dam of Belle of the Band is Alysbelle, a full sister to the great Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic Alysheba who was campaigned by Scharbauer’s wife, Dorothy, and daughter, Pam.
Coincidentally, Thegirlinthatsong won the Got Koko division of the Texas Stallion Stakes last year at Lone Star Park, a race named for the Texas-bred who captured the 2003 edition of the La Canada.