Nashoba’s Key gets the best of Citronnade

No one can now question the quality of the opposition Nashoba’s Key has beaten on turf.

Successful in three previous starts against California breds on grass, the unblemished 4-year-old daughter of Silver Hawk became a Grade I winner on the surface Saturday with a three-quarters length victory over 9-10 favorite Citronnade in the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita.

Owned by breeder Warren Williamson and trained by Carla Gaines, Nashoba’s Key, who paid $5.40 as the 17-10 second choice, is seven for seven and has won Grade I races on two surfaces -- grass and Cushion track. She won the Vanity Handicap nearly three months ago at Hollywood Park.

In her final start before she runs in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., Nashoba’s Key tracked a slow pace set by Citronnade, who had won her first two starts over the local turf, and got the advantage near the wire. The final time for the 1 1/4 miles was 1:59.73. Joe Talamo was the winning rider.

The other two Grade I races belonged -- barely -- to jockey Mike Smith.

Two races after winning the $244,000 Oak Leaf Breeders’ by a nose with 7-5 favorite Cry And Catch Me, the Hall of Fame rider won by inches again on 2-1 second choice Tiago in the $500,000 Goodwood Handicap.

Making his first start against older foes and his first since a victory in the Swaps on July 14 at Hollywood Park, Tiago outdistanced Awesome Gem, who went off at 7-2, to earn a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic next month.

Owned by breeders Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, Tiago, the younger brother of 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.93 for his fourth victory in eight starts.

The win in the Oak Leaf was the seventh since 1997 for trainer Bob Baffert. Only Wayne Lukas, who has nine victories, has won the race more often. Cry And Catch Me is headed for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

After finishing behind Street Sense in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Hard Spun got the best of the Derby winner, leading throughout to win the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

The victory was the second in as many tries over the synthetic Polytrak surface at Turfway for Hard Spun, who had won the Lanes End in March. Street Sense is now winless in three races on Poly, having lost twice earlier at Keeneland.

Lahudood, a 21-1 longshot, won the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational and 5-1 longshot Trippi’s Storm ended After Market’s win streak at four with a victory in the $250,000 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park.

In Illinois, Student Council, the 23-1 winner of the Pacific Classic last month at Del Mar, won the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup under jockey Richard Migliore.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com