Teddy's Promise wins La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Teddy's Promise beat fellow long shot Sugarinthemorning by 21/4 lengths to win the Grade 1, $300,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Saturday as overwhelming favorite Turbulent Descent failed to fire and finished a distant sixth.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, the 16-1 Teddy's promise took the lead from pacesetter Home Sweet Aspen on the turn and pulled away for the victory, covering seven furlongs in 1:20.47 and winning her first stakes.

"I had so much horse today I wasn't expecting anybody to come near me," Espinoza said. "She's a runner."

Teddy's Promise paid $35, $14.20 and $21.20. Sugarinthemorning paid $14.40 and $25.80. Great Hot was a head back in third and returned $11.40.

The big show price payouts were the result of heavy show betting on Turbulent Descent, who went off at 1-2 while every other runner was at least 8-1.

The filly, a three-time Grade 1 winner, likely lost any shot she had at an Eclipse award for champion female sprinter of 2011.

Jockey David Flores said Turbulent Descent had a "rough trip" while trainer Mike Puype said something was clearly off.

"She didn't kick it in like she's capable of, so I'll just have to go over her well physically and see where we're at," Puype said.

Teddy's Promise trainer Ron Ellis said he considered skipping the race because of the favorite, but was vetoed by his filly's owners.

"I actually asked the owners if they wanted to scratch and run tomorrow because I knew we could win tomorrow, but they wanted to go for the big show, and I couldn't argue with them."

Teddy's Promise had been improving but was unimpressive in three minor stakes before Saturday.

She more than doubled her earnings with the $180,000 La Brea payday, taking her lifetime total to $350,808 from five wins in 13 starts.

Earlier in the $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes, a turf mile for 2-year-olds, another long shot, Chips All In, beat Sheer Talent by 11/4 lengths for the victory.

Ridden by Alonso Quinonez for trainer Jeff Mullins, Chips All In won in 1:34.86 and paid $25.20, $11.40 and $6.

Another heavy favorite, Daddy Nose Best, was never a factor and had to rally for fifth.