PIPPIN STAKES

Don’t Tell Sophia, she sold for $1,000

 Jockey Ramon Vazquez rides Don’t Tell Sophia to a 7 /4-length victory in Saturday’s Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.
Jockey Ramon Vazquez rides Don’t Tell Sophia to a 7 /4-length victory in Saturday’s Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

— Trainer Phil Sims said it was “dumb luck” that he was able to purchase Don’t Tell Sophia for only $1,000 as a yearling.

There was nothing lucky about her performance Saturday afternoon in the 32nd running of the Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Don’t Tell Sophia surged for the lead on the outside turning for home en route to a record-breaking 7 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 race for older fillies and mares.

“I wouldn’t trade places with anyone in the race,” said Sims, who has already made a big splash in his first year at Oaklawn. “She’s a nice filly and had been doing really well here.”

Vuitton finished second, 23/4 lengths ahead of Minesave, who was followed, in order, by Itsabeautifulthing, Jemima’s Pearl, Bahama Bound, Miss Hockaday, Juliet Dear and Lady Candidate.

Jemima’s Pearl and Vuitton were part of the 6-5 favored entry.

Don’t Tell Sophia, the 9-5 second choice under Ramon Vazquez, paid $5.80, $2.80 and $3. Vuitton paid $2.40 and $2.20. Minesave paid $5.20.

A 5-year-old daughter of Congraee, Don’t Tell Sophia covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:45.62.

Her winning margin eclipsed the previous Pippin record of six lengths, shared by Bionic Soul (1993) and Crystal Mine (1998).

The Pippin was the first stakes victory for Don’t Tell Sophia, her fifth in 11 starts overall, and increased her earnings to $183,606.

She has never lost in four starts on dirt.

Sims purchased Don’t Tell Sophia for only $1,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

How did she slip thorough the cracks?

Sims said Don’t Tell Sophia originally belonged to the internationally prominent Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Darley Stable) following his 2008 purchase of Stonerside, a massive racing and breeding operation headquartered in central Kentucky.

Don’t Tell Sophia was bred by Stonerside, whose founder, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair, campaigned Congaree.

“When Darley bought the farm, a lot of horses came with it,” Sims said. “She didn’t have the pedigree that Sheikh Mohammed wanted. They put her through the sale without a reserve, and I made the only bid.”

Sims said Don’t Tell Sophia will likely make her next start in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes on Feb. 16.

Sims, 51, also co-owns Don’t Tell Sophia with Jerry Namy.

The trainer saddled his first Oaklawn winner Thursday when Lady Diva Ga Ga claimed an entry-level allowance event.

“It feels great being in Hot Springs,” Sims said. “The people here love horse racing.”

Sports, Pages 33 on 01/20/2013

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