INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 11, 2008) - Silky Smooth closed from fourth in the final furlong to win Wednesday's $79,575 Great Lady M. Stakes by two lengths under jockey Rafael Bejarano at Hollywood Park.
While Silky Smooth's late charge in the middle of the turf course resulted in an easy victory, the battle for second money was decided when second-choice Bahama Mama prevailed by a nose and a nose in a three-horse photo with Coco Belle and Lightmyfirebaby.
Silky Smooth, trained by Jeff Mullins for Edward K. Gaylord II, covered six furlongs on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:08.67 while paying $5.60, $3 and $2.60. Bahama Mama returned $3.40 and $2.60, while the show payoff on pacesetter Coco Belle was $3.40.
The victory was the chestnut filly's second in four Southern California starts. She won the the Viejas Cansino Handicap last summer at Del Mar after arriving from Woodbine in Canada via Saratoga. A winner of four of 13 starts overall, she banked $46,935 to increase her earnings to $274,107.
The victory was the second of the day for Bejarano, who leads the jockeys' standings with 39 wins through 36 days of the 60-day meet. It was also his meet-high ninth stakes win.
Mullins also had a pair of winners on the program and is third in the standings with 12 wins.
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