Thegirlinthatsong pounced on pacesetter Jojo Warrior a quarter mile from home and went on to win Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 La Canada Stakes by 4 ¼ lengths under Rafael Bejarano as even money favorite Lexie Lou got up for second.  Thegirlinthatsong is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for the partnership of Gatto, Hollendorfer, and Tim and Peter Russo.

Idle since running second in the Zia Park Oaks on Nov. 26, the 4-year-old Texas-bred daughter of My Golden Song tried Santa Anita’s main track for the first time and registered her fifth win from 19 overall starts. Last fall, she was second in the Remington Park Oaks in September, fifth behind Lexie Lou in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes on turf here in October, and second in the Zia Park Oaks in New Mexico in November.

Second behind 8-5 second choice Jojo Warrior through splits of 23.63, 47.13 and 1:11.66, Thegirlinthatsong got the mile in 1:36.99 en route to her biggest career victory. She picked up $120,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $407,695.