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Hard Not to Like hit the wire first in the $150,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT) 

Jan. 31 at Tampa Bay Downs but was disqualified, moving favored Testa Rossi into the winner's circle.

 

With longshot Lots o' Lex in front turning for home, jockey John Velazquez tipped the 2-1 second-choice Hard Not to Like off the rail to take the lead, with Testa Rossi driving on the outside. In deep stretch, Hard Not to Like bore out badly into the path of Testa Rossi, causing her to check before she finished second, beaten by three-quarters of a length.

 

The stewards immediately flashed the inquiry sign and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard Testa Rossi, claimed foul against Hard Not to Like.

 

After a brief inquiry, the stewards disqualified Hard Not to Like from first to second and elevated Testa Rossi to the victory.

 

Lots o' Lex lasted for third at 76-1 odds and was followed in order by Principessa Ava, Medea, Maria Maria, I'm Already Sexy, Julie's Love, Save the Park, Why Katherine, and Naughty Holiday.

 

Rock On Baby, Rosalind, and Tokyo Time were all early scratches.

 

The disqualification gave Testa Rossi her third graded victory since arriving at Chad Brown's barn from France in August 2013. She took the Miss Grillo Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park in October 2013 before winning the Florida Oaks (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay last March.

 

In between those two starts, she finished a flying second in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.

 

Testa Rossi covered the 1 1/16-mile Endeavour in 1:42.04 at 8-5 odds on firm turf and tallied a sixth win from 11 career starts. The 4-year-old chestnut filly is by Dr Fong out of Peggy Lane, by Dancing Spree. She was bred in France by Barbara Moser and is campaiged by James Covello, Thomas Coleman, and Doheny Racing Stable.

 

Carrying 120 pounds, Testa Rossi returned $5.20, $3.40, and $3. Hard Not to Like paid $4 and $3.40, while Lots o' Lex returned $12.80 to show.