Need for horses results in Ida Needa Drink victory

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

Walther Solis, who trains San Luis Rey Training Center filly Ida Needa Drink, had planned to run her next during the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club summer meet rather than at Los Alamitos Race Course. At the request of the track, Solis entered Ida Needa Drink in the fourth race July 10 at Los Alamitos.

"They needed another horse. They called me," Solis said.

Solis already had Lady Audubon in the five-furlong dirt race for 2-year-old fillies who had not broken their maiden. Ida Needa Drink won that race and Lady Audubon finished second.

"I was pleased with the results," Solis said.

San Luis Rey fillies had the top four finishing positions in the race. Forest Acclamation, who is trained by Doug O'Neill, finished third. Thirsty Thoughts, whose trainer is Keith Craigmyle, was the fourth horse across the finish line.

Ida Needa Drink was foaled on April 7, 2020, at Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs. She was sired by Stay Thirsty out of If Only Ida. Ida Needa Drink is owned by Tom London, Terry Lovinger, and Eugene Zondio.

A five-furlong race June 10 at Santa Anita Park was the first competition for Ida Needa Drink, and she finished seventh 15 1/4 lengths behind winner Sell the Dream. Early in her July 1 race at Los Alamitos, she lost jockey Kyle Frey early in the race, which disqualified her from a finishing position.

Frey was also Ida Needa Drink's jockey on July 10. Tyler Baze rode Lady Audubon. Diego Herrera was aboard Forest Acclamation. Ricardo Ramirez was on Thirsty Thoughts.

Thirsty Thoughts broke first out of the gate with Ida Needa Drink breaking second, Lady Audubon being the third horse to leave the starting gate, and Forest Acclamation leaving fourth. With 3/16 of a mile elapsed Lady Audubon had the lead and was a head in front of Ida Needa Drink. Forest Acclamation was in third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Ida Needa Drink. Thirsty Thoughts held fourth and trailed Forest Acclamation by a length while leading fifth-place Smiling Princess by six lengths.

Lady Audubon was foaled in California out of Lady Atarah Jan. 4, 2020 and sired by Under Caution. Her breeder and owner, Gary C. Cooper, also runs horses in Utah and Wyoming. Lady Audubon began her training at Utah tracks, initially at the Laurel Brown track in South Jordan and then at Dixie Downs in St. George. Solis had her transferred to San Luis Rey in May. "I'm a Southern California trainer," he said.

The July 10 race was the first for Lady Audubon and, after taking the lead, she lost two positions. Ida Needa Drink held the lead after 3/8 of a mile while Forest Acclamation was in second, half a length behind Ida Needa Drink and a head in front of Lady Audubon. Thirsty Thoughts was in fourth, three lengths behind Lady Audubon and six lengths ahead of Smiling Princess.

Ida Needa Drink entered the stretch 2 1/2 lengths in front of Forest Acclamation, who led Lady Audubon by half a length. Thirsty Thoughts was 2 1/2 lengths behind Lady Audubon and 5 1/2 lengths in front of Smiling Princess.

The winning time for Ida Needa Drink was 59.77 seconds, and she crossed the finish line six lengths ahead of Lady Audubon. "She was the class of the race," Solis said. "I wasn't surprised."

Lady Audubon moved from third to second in the stretch. "I was really happy," Solis said.

Lady Audubon finished half a length in front of Forest Acclamation, who was a neck ahead of Thirsty Thoughts.

"I'm really pleased with the outcome of the race, first and second. I couldn't ask for anything better," Solis said.

The total purse including starter bonuses was $26,500. Ida Needa Drink earned the first-place share of $15,600. Lady Audubon obtained earnings of $5,200.

Ida Needa Drink is no longer eligible for maiden races, so her next race has not yet been determined although Solis will be reviewing the Del Mar condition book to determine a subsequent start. Lady Audubon will also run her next race at the Del Mar meet.