Super Patriot wins Fran's Valentine Stakes

San Luis Rey Training Center mare Super Patriot won the Fran’s Valentine Stakes race June 6 at Santa Anita Park.

The 5-year-old won the one-mile turf race for California-bred fillies and mares 3 years old and upward by 1 3/4 lengths over second-place Sedamar. Super Patriot and jockey Flavien Prat had a winning time of 1:35.66.

“Flavien rode her perfectly. She wants to come from behind, and he told me he never even had to use his stick,” trainer Richard Baltas said.

The race was the first in more than three months for Super Patriot.

“The horse fit the conditions,” Baltas said.

On Feb. 22, Super Patriot ran in the Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita. She finished eighth among the nine horses.

“She got stuck on the rail and she had nowhere to go,” Baltas said. “It wasn’t a bad race. It was a traffic issue.”

The coronavirus quarantine canceled races at Santa Anita after the March 22 card, and the track did not reopen until May 15. Super Patriot had 10 workouts at San Luis Rey between her Feb. 22 and June 6 races.

“She loves it there. It’s quiet. The horse does well over there,” Baltas said.

The June 6 race was her first stakes race win ever and her first victory since two August 2019 races at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

“She likes Del Mar, too,” Baltas said.

Baltas explained that the Del Mar facilities include an outside tent as well as a barn configuration which allows the horses to look at the outside rather than at another stable across the walkway.

Super Patriot has been at San Luis Rey and trained by Baltas since June 2019.

“We like to keep her happy,” Baltas said.

“I’m very fortunate to have her,” Baltas said. “I’ve always loved Unusual Heat as a sire.”

Super Patriot was foaled in California Jan. 31, 2015. Her dam was Patriot C.H.

Unusual Heat also sired Fireproof, a 3-year-old mare who gave Baltas a trainer win May 29 at Santa Anita.

“They seem to get better as they get older,” Baltas said of Unusual Heat’s offspring.

Super Patriot was one of six horses in Fran’s Valentine Stakes.

“She was the favorite,” Baltas said.

Prat reviews the horses he rides before meeting the trainer in the paddocks before the race.

“He watches a couple of videos,” Baltas said.

Baltas thus asked Prat his opinion while they were in the paddocks.

“He’s usually right on target,” Baltas said.

Super Patriot had the second post position and broke fifth. She was in the back, seven lengths behind leader Cordiality, a quarter of a mile into the race and also behind all other horses after half a mile when she was 6 1/2 lengths behind Cordiality. Cordiality maintained the lead after 3/4 of a mile while Super Patriot moved up to fifth while trailing the leader by 3 1/2 lengths.

Sedamar had the lead entering the stretch and led Cordiality by half a length. Super Patriot was in third, a length behind Cordiality and half a length in front of Warren’s Showtime.

Her Aug. 30 win at Del Mar was also a one-mile turf race. Super Patriot won a 1 1/16-mile competition Aug. 17 on Del Mar’s turf course. Her other three career wins were in 2018, and all were one-mile turf races.

“I think she’s very effective at a mile. She probably could go a little further,” Baltas said.

First place in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes paid $60,000 from the $100,000 total purse and increased Super Patriot’s career earnings to $353,954.

The Aug. 15 Solana Beach Stakes at Del Mar is a one-mile turf race for California-bred fillies and mares 3 years old and upward.

“She’ll probably show up in Del Mar,” Baltas said of Super Patriot’s potential next race.

Baltas won’t limit Super Patriot to Cal-bred races.

“I really think she can beat open horses,” he said.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].