Hostess and Maxim Rate hit the wire together, but Hostess got her nose down on the line first to win the G3 Providencia Stakes by a whisker at Santa Anita 6 April.
The victory was the first Graded Stakes win for the three-year-old filly by Iffraaj, who was making her North American debut.
Settled toward the back of the field early, Hostess began to close in on the leaders on the far turn. In the stretch it looked as though Maxim Rate was going to get the victory, but Hostess was closing like a freight train.
The two fillies hit the wire together, just ahead of Lady Prancealot who also was rallying late. It took a photo to separate the fillies, with Hostess being declared the winner.
Hostess was bred in England by Highclere Stud. She is out of the Alhaarth mare, Birdie, winner of the Listed Oaks Trial Stakes.
Iffraaj is sire of nine G1 winners to date, including dual European Champion Ribchester and crack sprinter Jungle Cat, both of whom now stand on the Darley roster at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. Iffraaj sired an impressive 23 two-year-old winners in 2018, headed by G2 colt Confiding.
Iffraaj stands at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £35,000, Oct 1, SLF.
