BROODMARE LADY KATFISH ON A ROLL WITH HER OFFSPRING AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS
Trainer Sherrie Monroe and owner/breeder Deron Pearson (DP Racing) have won with two maidens this month, both being first-time starters out of the Exchange Rate mare Lady Katfish. Lady Katfish won two races sprinting at Santa Anita in 2013 and, evidently, has passed her one-turn genetics to her foals.
On February 7, three-year-old Ecologist went off at 43-1, the longest shot in the field of seven. After breaking a step slowly, the chestnut gelding sat at the back of the pack before producing a strong rally in the final furlong, passing all six rivals in the final stages of the race. He finished a length and a half clear of the second-place finisher and galloped out with an abundance of energy.
Last Saturday afternoon, four-year-old filly Lady of Perception kicked off her racing career with a length and a quarter victory against maiden 25k claimers. Like little brother Ecologist, Lady of Perception sat towards the rear of the field before displaying a sharp turn of foot down the stretch. Bet down from a 12-1 morning line to her 9-2 post-time odds, Lady of Perception did not disappoint her backers.
“I knew both horses could run a little bit,” said Monroe. “The barn-all my help-was so excited when they won. It’s really rewarding to work hard every morning and see [the horses] perform so well in the afternoon. I was thrilled for the horses, Deron [Pearson] and my team back at the barn.”
So what’s next?
“At the moment, I’m leaning towards running them both in a starter allowance,” said Monroe. “I think they’ll be able to run effectively at longer distances, too. Ecologist galloped out great. The jockey had a hard time pulling him up after the race. He was just getting started. Lady of Perception finished up her race with plenty of energy and also galloped out nicely.”
Ecologist is by California stallion Tom’s Tribute, a Grade I winner who raced primarily on the turf. Tom’s Tribute won the Grade I Eddie Read at Del Mar in 2014 and, one race later, tallied another first-place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile. Lady of Perception is also by a California stallion, Richard’s Kid, who amassed over $2.4 million throughout his 46-race career. Richard’s Kid is one of three racehorses who have won Del Mar’s Grade I Pacific Classic two years in a row, scoring victories at the seaside racetrack’s most prestigious event in 2009 and 2010.
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TRACK RECORD HOLDER KEEPER OFTHE STARS NOW A GRADE 2 WINNER
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ Keeper Ofthe Stars picked up her first career Grade 2 victory with a 36-1 upset in the Grade 2, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes on turf at Santa Anita last Saturday. Trained by Jonathan Wong, the recently turned 4-year-old filly stalked the pace before pouncing on early leader and 3-5 favorite Jolie Olympica late to take the one-mile race by a half-length. Abel Cedillo was aboard for the ride.
“I loved how she was doing coming into the race,” said Wong. “I thought [Jolie Olympica] would be tough to beat, but I also felt our filly had a big chance to at least hit the board. She’s had a couple of rough trips in her last couple of races and she hasn’t really been able to put her best foot forward. This time, she got a great trip and ran her best race yet. It was really exciting.”
Keeper Ofthe Stars sports an impressive resume. Her lifetime record reads 6 wins, 1 second and 3 thirds from 14-lifetime starts, with career earnings of $321,931. She broke the mile and one-sixteenth turf track record at Golden Gate last summer, stopping the clock in 1:40.55 seconds. That day, she raced against older fillies and mares as a 3-year-old, which made her effort even more impressive. Later in the season, Keeper Ofthe Stars won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita and completed the superfecta in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks. Her pedigree is attractive: by Kentucky stallion Midnight Lute, Keeper Ofthe Stars is out of the Run Away and Hide mare Sociable, who is a half-sibling to Grade I winner and Lanes End stallion The Factor. She was purchased for $180,000 as a yearling.
With her pedigree and race record in mind, she is projected to be worth a lot more than $180,000 now.
“She’s one of the best fillies I’ve ever trained,” said Wong. “We’re pointing her to the Grade 2 Royal Heroine (one mile on turf) on Saturday, April 4 (Santa Anita Derby Day).”
In other news, Wong noted that undefeated 3-year-old filly Tiz Fake News could show up next in the March 8, Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita or the March 14 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park. Also, Wong’s The Adrie Factor, a 2-time stake winner at Turf Paradise, will “freshen up” and is possible for the $75,000 California Oaks on Gold Rush Weekend Saturday, April 26 at Golden Gate.
MISS AMERICA STAKES WINNER BLUE DIVA RETURNS IN FRIDAY FEATURE
Miss America Stakes winner Blue Diva is back to play at Golden Gate Fields in the Friday feature: a mile and one-sixteenth allowance on Tapeta for fillies and mares four-years-old and upward. The event is slotted as Race 4, the first leg of the Late Pick 4.
Without question, Blue Diva is the headliner. The last time we watched her race on the Tapeta, she won the Miss America Stakes under jockey Juan Hernandez, who retains the mount on Friday. That afternoon, Blue Diva beat Qafilah and Renny’s Lady, both trained by Manny Badilla who also entered in Friday’s fourth race. Blue Diva, last seen running fourth in the Grade 3 Astra Stakes on the grass at Santa Anita, makes her first start under the care of new trainer Jacqui Navarre.
“[Blue Diva] is doing really well,” said Navarre. “She’s been working super for this race. I think she’s pretty versatile; in the mornings she works like a rocket but in the afternoon she will relax and the jockey can pretty much put her anywhere based on how the race unfolds. Hopefully, she gets a good trip.”
Also entered in Friday’s fourth race is Vronilla Parfait, who attempts routing at the ripe age of seven. She is a multiple stakes placed sprinter, having run second in the 2018 Bear Fan Stakes.
“[Vronilla Parfait] is coming into the race great,” said her trainer, Sergio Ledezma. “A while ago, we tried routing her once on the grass. She ran okay, but I think she is better on Tapeta. We’re excited to see how she does going two turns over a surface we know she really likes.”
2019 Southern California stakes winner Wicked Old Fashion rounds out the field. She defeated a number of classy turf routers on November 8 in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar but, since then, has regressed and finished off the board in three straight races. Victor Trujillo trains for owners Frank Aufdermaur and Wayne Swisher, who claimed Wicked Old Fashion for $14,000 in 2018 and have won 6 races and over $100,000 with their current stable star.
CLAIMS
The claims list from this past week is as follows:
Friday
Race 3: King Eddie (new trainer Bill McLean, new owners Carpenter & McLean)
Mirror Image (Tim McCanna, Pat LePlay)
Race 4: I Declare War (Jonathan Wong, Nentwig, Madden Racing & MJVET Stables)
Race 7: Far West (Isidro Tamayo, Leon Scott)
Hot’n Notty (Jonathan Wong, Battle Born Racing)
Race 8: Magic Rate (Samuel Calvario, Johnny Taboada)
Saturday
Race 1: Perfect Sale (Jack Steiner, Remmah Racing Inc.)
Sunday
Race 1: Cash for Cass (Jacqui Navarre, Aaron Pewtherer)
Nonna Gianna (O.J. Jauregui, Adrian Gonzalez)
Race 3: Going to Shabooms (Isidro Tamayo, Michael Demoulin)
Race 8: Heatseeker Baby (Andy Mathis, Branch & Porreca)
FINISH LINES: In the second race last Friday, six runners hit the wire in post-position order. #1 Moon Rocket finished first, #2 My Idol ran second, #3 Waverly Way checked in third, etc…In the Island Fashion Stakes at Sunland Park on Sunday, Golden Gate shippers swept the trifecta. Shanghai Keely, making her first start off the claim for owners Stable H.M.A., won the $75,000 dirt mile event by three-parts of a length. Brave Cinderella, also racing in the Stable H.M.A silks for the first time, finished second. Both fillies are now trained by leading New Mexico conditioner Justin Evans. Dynasty of Her Own, sent off as the 4-5 favorite for Jonathan Wong, set a grueling pace while dueling on the lead before tiring to third…Congratulations to trainer Frank Lucarelli, who was awarded the “How We Roll Special Achievement Award” in Washington State. Last year, Lucarelli broke the record for most wins by a trainer in a single season at Emerald Downs…On Monday evening, trainer Bill Delia was honored at a special banquet dinner for winning the CTBA Trainer of the Year award. Among those in attendance: GGF Vice President and General Manager David Duggan and Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Patrick Mackey…The Golden Pick Six jackpot carryover continues to climb, reaching $139,160 after Sunday’s race card…Leg C of the Stronach 5 wager goes as Race 3 at Golden Gate on Friday. ***PLEASE NOTE: This week, the Stronach 5 pool has a carryover of $167,951***…Happy birthday to trainer Sammy Calvario and apprentice jockey Juan Espinoza, both celebrating their birthdays within the next seven days.