Yuvetsi surged past Vale Dori (ARG) at the top of the Santa Anita Park stretch en route to a 2 1/2-length win in Friday’s $75,000 Santa Lucia S.
This was the first stakes win for the 4-year-old Bodemeister filly, who had placed in last month’s Desert Stormer S. (G3) over the same oval.
Going two turns for the first time on the main track, Yuvetsi stalked Vale Dori for the first six furlongs, then easily moved past her with a quarter-mile to run. Yuvetsi was well clear in the final furlong and stopped the timer in 1:45.39 for the 1 1/16-miles.
Yuvetsi is now 3-3-2 in 11 starts and upped her earnings to $161,930 for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. The winner was bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm. Her dam Mother Ruth, by Speightstown, was a three-time stakes winner.
Bodemeister, sire of 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming, leads all Third-Crop Sires in 2018 with 61 winners to date.
