Jojo Warrior dominates in G2 Summertime Oaks

Zayat Stables’ homebred 3-year-old filly Jojo Warrior broke into the ranks of stakes winners in a big way Saturday at Santa Anita Park, rolling to a 5 1/4-length victory in the $200,750 Summertime Oaks (G2).

Trainer by Bob Baffert, Jojo Warrior drew the rail and added blinkers for Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile contest. With Martin Garcia aboard, she hustled from the gate to secure the lead going in to the first turn. Up by a length and a half after a solid :46.61 seconds, Garcia had a measured hold of his filly until the top of the lane, when she kicked away from the field to win with authority.

The final time was 1:43.09 on a fast track.

“She’s been running against good horses and she wants to run all day,” said Garcia. “I knew that I had the rail but she broke well and I put her on the lead and she was comfortable with that. I took advantage of it. She’s really sharp and when I asked her to go, she responded.”

The victory, worth $120,000, increased Jojo Warrior’s career earnings to $200,781, with two wins in five starts. Prior to Saturday’s win, she placed in both the $100,000 Instant Racing S. at Oaklawn Park and the $100,000 Miss Preakness S. in May.

Formerly run as the Hollywood Oaks at the now-shuttered southern California track, Baffert now has three winners of the newly-renamed race, with previous victories from Tough Tiz’s Sis in 2007 and Santa Catarina in 2003.