LONGSHOT RIDEFORTHECAUSE RALLIES TO DEFEAT HEAVILY FAVORED DOGTAG BY A HEAD IN $75,000 POSSIBLY PERFECT, GETTING 1 ¼ MILES ON TURF IN 2:02.45

ARCADIA, Calif. (June 13, 2021)–Trainer Michael McCarthy’s longshot Rideforthecause had three lengths to make up with a furlong to run, but she kept to her task and was able to nip heavily favored Dogtag by a head in Sunday’s $75,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita.  Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Rideforthecause got a mile and one quarter on turf in 2:02.45.

With defending champ Dogtag and Peruvian-bred Kuora sparring on the front end early, Dogtag, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, took charge around the far turn and just missed in a big effort.

Most recently second, beaten a nose by today’s third place finisher, Neige Blanche in the Grade III Santa Barbara Stakes May 8, Rideforthecause was off at 7-1 in a field of eight fillies and mares three and up and paid $16.00, $4.60 and $3.20.

“I think I got to know her a little bit better, but even though last time, if you watch the replay, it was just the luck of the (head-bob),” said Gutierrez, who was aboard for the third consecutive time today.  “I knew it was going to be tough to catch (Dogtag) but my filly, every time I would ask her and would push her, she was giving me all she can…I looked for the wire and it was a little far, so I wasn’t 100 percent confident.  But I knew she was charging all the way until the end.”

Owned by Alpha Delta Stables, LLC, Rideforthecause, a 5-year-old Ontario Canadian-bred mare by Candy Ride out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Danceforthecause.  A Group II winner at Woodbine this past September, she was making her fourth start for McCarthy today and she now has two stakes wins and an overall mark of 15-5-1-1.  With the winner’s share of $48,840, she increased her earnings to $361,066.

The 1-2 favorite, Dogtag paid $2.40 and $2.10 while finishing three quarters of a length in front of Neige Blanche.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, French-bred Neige Blanche was off at 6-1 and paid $3.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 25.42, 51.22, 1:15.33 and 1:38.70.