FAVORED TANDA GETS JOB DONE IN TURF SPRINT FEATURE

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 5, 2010) – Tanda, the 13-10 favorite with Alex Solis aboard, ran down 25-1 British-import Vanishing Grey to score a 1 ¼ length victory Friday in Santa Anita’s $47,600 optional claiming feature for 3-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs over the track’s downhill turf course.

Closing strongly on the far outside in the field of nine, the Florida-bred daughter of Sweetsouthernsaint recorded her second victory in three starts over the unique grass layout following a second place finish to well-regarded Rose Catherine in the Sweet Life Stakes on Jan. 24. Tanda was timed in 1:13.55.

Vanishing Grey, making her U.S. debut after competing in a Group III event at Ascot last October, proved a game runner-up under Joe Talamo while finishing a head in front of the late-charging 3-1 second choice, Elusive Galaxy, ridden by Tyler Baze.

The winner paid $4.60, $3 and $2.60. Vanishing Grey returned $16.80 and $9.20 while the show price on Elusive Galaxy was $3.40.

“She got a little anxious in the gate,” said winning trainer Dan Hendricks after posing for pictures with Tanda, “but, after that, she handled everything like a pro.”

Despite Tanda’s success in three straight races sprinting over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course, Hendricks thought it might be time to try her at longer distances.

“We want to keep her going in the right direction,” he said. “There are a lot of races for her in the summer. I’m hoping she can go longer.”

While bettering her record to 2-1-0 in four starts for Tommy Hutton’s Dream Stable, Tanda earned $27,600 to bring her career earnings to $67,110.

The 73rd running of the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino is one of three Grade I stakes races to be presented on Saturday’s 11-race program with a special early first post time of 12 noon. The card includes the Frank E. Kilroe Mile and Santa Anita Oaks, both Grade I events, plus the rescheduled Grade III Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds that had been cancelled due to rain the previous Saturday.

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