Composure Turns Tables On Archrival Elloluv In Stirring Las Virgenes
By: John Gaver III

(Feb. 9, 2003) - Under an enterprising, well-timed ride from jockey Jerry Bailey, Bob and Beverly Lewis' Composure wore down archrival Elloluv in the final yards to win the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (GI) by a determined neck on Feb. 9 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of six sophomore fillies, Composure returned $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10. She covered eight furlongs over a "fast" Santa Anita strip in 1:36.13. It was another three lengths back to third-place finisher Watching You. Puxa Saco, Maddie's Charm and Favola (GB) completed the official order of finish.

"I'm glad I brought him out here," winning trainer Bob Baffert said on the decision to bring Bailey out to ride Composure. "We needed him for every inch today. That's a game mare (Elloluv), but I thought she (Composure) was game the way she ran, too."

Composure got away to an awkward start and spotted the rest of the compact field a handful of lengths, as she left the gate running and got caught up in a tangle when the ground broke out from underneath her. Meanwhile, Elloluv and jockey Patrick Valenzuela broke like a shot and seized command of the early lead, getting a soft opening quarter-mile in :24.81.

Bailey hustled Composure into contention shortly after the missed break, and he was soon in touch with the field as it swung on the backside, with Elloluv carving out a half-mile in :47.81 and three-quarters in 1:11.86 while being stalked by Watching You.

At the head of the lane, Elloluv started to kick-clear, but the rail opened up for Bailey and he asked his mount to pick up the pace to squeeze through the opening in order to save ground. Composure took the bit and took off after Elloluv, who had something in reserve and was spurting away in upper-stretch after setting a soft pace.

Bailey then swung Composure out from the rail and into the four-path as the pair engaged Elloluv and Valenzuela at the eighth-pole. Both fillies dug in gamely in the final furlong, neither willing you relinquish an inch, but Composure was finally able to edge clear in the shadow of the wire to post the neck decision.

"It was a great effort especially considering she gave up three lengths at the break and then I had to alter course with her, so it was a lot for her to overcome," Bailey said after the race. "I thought she showed great courage to get up and win like that."

"I’m happy. What are you going to do?," Elloluv's trainer, Craig Dollase said after the race. "She ran her butt off like she always does. Pat (Valenzuela) really slowed the pace down. I thought he rode her great. She just got head-bobbed there, that’s all."

With the victory, Composure not only improved her lifetime record to three wins and a pair of seconds from seven starts lifetime, but also avenged a loss to Elloluv as a 2-year-old in last year's Grade I Hollywood Starlet at Hollywood Park.

The $120,000 winner's share of the Las Virgenes purse boosted Composure's career earnings to $551,300.

Baffert said he would talk things over with the Lewises before making a decision on Composure's next start. The Grade I Santa Anita Oaks on Mar. 9 is the next logical spot for her at Santa Anita.

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