Ups & Downs Racing’s homebred filly Becausei’mworthit, making her seasonal debut off a nearly six-month break, led every step of the way en route to victory in the off-the-turf running of the $55,000 Cool Air Stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course on Saturday, prevailing by two lengths while covering the five-furlong distance in :58.22.
“If they were going to let me go easy, the plan was to go to the front and just take it from there,” winning rider Jose Lopez said. “And that’s what she did. I kept waiting to see if any of the other horses were going to come after me, but they never did. And she had enough left for the end.”
Ridden aggressively from post two by Lopez, Becausei’mworthit was never intent on merely rationing her early speed as the filly quickly opened up a clear lead on her rivals, running opening splits in a rather swift :21.81 and :45.20.
Becausei’mworthit entered the stretch with a six-length advantage on her rivals, and while Nakano made some noise late when running down the lane with purpose, the outcome was never in peril, as Lopez got just enough out of his filly to hold sway through the wire.
Trained by Monte Thomas, Becausei’mworthit returned $10.40, $5.40, and $3.80 for her front-running victory. Nakano paid $3.40 and $2.80 for second, while Leopard Rock returned $3.40 when 1 ¾ lengths back in third.
Completing the order of finish was Indulgence, Many Crowns, Commence Firing, and More Than Speed.
With her victory in the Cool Air, Becausei’mworthit has now won four of 11 starts and has lifetime earnings of $90,313. The win was the first stakes triumph for the daughter of Indian Express, who was already stakes-placed having finished third in last year’s running of the Cool Air.
