Florida-bred Christmas Ship got her third stakes victory in exciting fashion at Santa Rosa on Saturday, rallying to beat the favored You Lift Me Up by a nose in the $59,950 Luther Burbank Handicap.
Christmas Ship, a 5-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud Farm stallion Montbrook, had no room to run with one furlong remaining in the 1 1⁄16-mile race on firm turf but angled to the extreme outside under jockey Leslie Mawing to find daylight. The mare then quickly made up ground on the leaders, getting up just in time and finishing in 1:43.23.
Christmas Ship had run in fifth place early as Markmelauras took the field of seven fillies and mares through a quarter-mile in 23.58 seconds and a half-mile in 46.87.
As the fifth choice in the field, she returned $15.20, $5.20 and $3 across the board. You Lift Me Up paid $3.40 and $2.60 after finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Lady Railrider, who returned $3.40 to show.
Christmas Ship was bred by Edward Wiest and his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Mark Heather. Owned by a partnership that includes trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, she’s won five of her 35 starts and earned $267,870. She previously won the $57,000 Alameda County Fillies and Mares Handicap in Pleasanton, Calif., and the $18,000 Donna Jensen Handicap by 13 ½ lengths at Portland Meadows.
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