Ninth Group winner for American Pharoah
Grade 1-placed last out, Merneith (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) earned her first Graded stakes victory in Saturday’s G2 Santa Monica S.
Racing 1400 metres over the Santa Anita dirt, Merneith flashed speed to race comfortably when trading the lead back and fourth with Golden Principle (USA) (Constitution {USA}). As they turned into the straight, Merneith showed she was just toying with the competition when she galloped away to win by 2.25l and led home a Bob Baffert trifecta.
The ninth Graded stakes winner for her sire, 4-year-old Merneith was bred by China Horse Club and sold for US$350,000 (AU$451,272) as a weanling before bringing US$600,000 (AU$773,610) as a 2-year-old. The 4-year-old is out of the stakes winner Flattermewithroses (USA) (Flatter {USA}), a granddaughter of Grade 2 winner and stakes producer Fluttery Danseur (USA) (Wavering Monarch {USA}).
Juddmonte homebred wins Risen Star
Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) jumped on the Kentucky Derby trail on Saturday when he took home the G2 Risen Star S. over 1800 metres.
Breaking from a wider post position, Mandaloun put himself in third a few lengths off the leading Rightandjust (USA) (Awesome Again {USA}). As they hit the final 400 metres, Mandaloun angled to the centre of the track and briefly battled with Midnight Bourbon (USA) (Tiznow {USA}) before putting that one away. The colt started to pull away late and win by 1.25l with Godolphin’s Proxy (USA) (Tapit {USA}) taking over second close to the line by 0.5l.
By two-time champion sire Into Mischief (USA), Mandaloun is out of the multiple Group stakes winner Brooch (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) and from the family of Australian Group winner Platinum Kingdom (Magnus).
Dettori to ride Prince Of Arran
Jockey Frankie Dettori will ride Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) in the Red Sea Turf H. at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Saudi Arabia on February 20.
A three-time placer in the G1 Melbourne Cup, the Charlie Fellowes trainee is doing well in advance of the US$2.5-milllion (AU$3,223,375) contest. In his latest start, the gelding was third at Kempton in a two-mile synthetic affair on February 6.
“He's in good nick and I'm looking forward to seeing him out there, hopefully the journey goes well,” Fellowes told ITV Racing. “We've got Frankie up, which will be interesting. He's never ridden him before, but you couldn't have a better jockey in the plate. I'm looking forward to it.”
Clairiere wins Rachel Alexandra
Frosted’s (USA) Travel Column (USA) nearly added a second G1 Kentucky Oaks prep race to her resume on Saturday but in the end was just bested by Curlin’s (USA) Clairiere (USA).
Battling for the second straight stakes race, the pair hit the stretch of the 1700 metre race running better than anyone else with Travel Column having the advantage. It wasn’t until the final 100 metres that Clairiere was able to draw even with Travel Column and put her nose in front to win by a neck with the rest of the field over 6l back.
Clairiere is the first foal out of the multiple Grade 1 winner Cavorting (USA) (Bernardini {USA}), who is also a daughter of Grade 2 winner Promenade Girl (USA) (Carson City {USA}). This is also the family of All American’s Listed City of Adelaide H. winner Zebulon and VRC St. Leger winner Transact (Dundeel {NZ}) among a packed stakes-winning family.
Frosted trifecta at Fair Grounds
Darley’s Frosted (USA) made a big statement on Saturday at the Fair Grounds when his runners finished first, second, and third, led by the 10l winner Euphoric (USA).
Eurphoric led from the start in the 1200 metre dirt race with Frosted’s Chione (USA) close behind early on. The Frosteds' showed multiple dimensions however, with Lady Frosted (USA) shooting up from sixth to get within 1.5l of Chione, who had finished 10l behind the winner.
Euphoric is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Conquest Soprano (USA), a daughter of former shuttle stallion Super Saver (USA). A US$425,000 (AU$547,973) yearling, Chione is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Hard Aces (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) while Lady Frosted is out of the Grade 1-placed Indulgence (USA) (Macho Uno {USA}).
Maxfield stays undefeated in Mineshaft
Godolphin’s Maxfield (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) once again rewarded his owners for keeping him in training after multiple setbacks last year with a win in Saturday’s G3 Mineshaft S.
Racing over 1700 metres on the Fair Grounds dirt, Maxfield broke a bit awkwardly but quickly put that behind him as he settled well under Florent Geroux. The 4-year-old showed his traditional dominating style in the stretch when he blew past the leader to win by 3.25l and take his record to five-from-five.
Maxfield is the fifth stakes winner and sixth stakes performer of 2021 for Darley’s former shuttle stallion Street Sense (USA). One of two winners from two to race out of the Bernardini (USA) mare Velvety (USA),
Maxfield is a grandson of multiple Graded stakes winner Caress (USA) (Storm Cat {USA}). That mare is also the dam of Grade 1 winner and successful sire Sky Mesa (USA) (Pulpit {USA}) and Grade 3 winner Golden Velvet (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}) among others.
