It appeared on paper that Smooth Like Strait might have an easy time on the front end in the $300,500 Shoemaker Mile Stakes. As it turned out, not one, but two rivals in the field of six pressed the Cannon Thoroughbreds' homebred from the start – but it didn't matter.
Month: June 2021
Maxim Rate Springs $29.80 Surprise In Santa Anita’s Gamely
With the mile and one-eighth distance taking its toll, heavily favored Charmaine's Mia faltered in the final sixteenth in Monday's Grade 1, $300,000 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., and longshot Maxim Rate, ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, took full advantage as she lengthened her stride when it counted to win by a half-length. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Maxim Rate got the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.61.
Charmaine's Mia, a winner of three consecutive graded stakes at shorter distances coming into the Gamely, took her customary position on the lead but hit the deep end of the pool a sixteenth of a mile from home and Maxim Rate, who stalked the pace while fourth early, was able to take full advantage while holding off a late run from French-bred La Signare.
“We knew she was training really well coming into this race,” said Callaghan. “We felt that the set up (would) be perfect. A mile and an eighth, back here in California, I think is totally her game. We had some speed to run at and it actually turned out exactly how we wrote up the race (in advance).
“The Grade I was our main aim and to pull it off is fantastic for all of the owners, all of the Slam Dunk team, everyone involved. Now, we'll just space the races out and it will be nice to get to the Breeders' Cup.”
A winner of Santa Anita's G2 Goldikova Stakes at a flat mile on turf three starts back on Oct. 25, Maxim Rate was then fifth in her last two starts, the G1 Matriarch at Del Mar Nov. 29 and the G1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland April 10.
Off at 13-1 in a field of seven fillies and mares three and up, Maxim Rate paid $29.80, $12.00 and $7.40.
A 5-year-old mare by Exchange Rate out of the Unbridled's Song mare Catch My Eye, Maxim Rate, who is owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Stable Currency, LLC and James Branham, notched her third graded stakes win and her fourth win from eight starts over the Santa Anita lawn. With the winner's share of $180,000, she increased her earnings to $597,185 while improving her overall mark to 16-6-3-0.
“She broke out of there, really clean break, she relaxed really well for me,” said Hernandez. “She's a very classy filly, you can do whatever you want with her. I had a really good trip and I just waited for the quarter pole to start working on her and when I asked her to go, she took off. She's a very nice filly.”
Ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, La Signare had two horses beat turning for home and proved second best, finishing a half length in front of English-bred Bodhicitta. Based in the Midwest with trainer Brendan Walsh and making her first start at Santa Anita, La Signare was off at 9-2 and paid $6.00 and $4.20.
Idle since Nov. 29, the Richard Baltas-trained Bodhicitta, next to last at the top of the lane, was up to nip last year's Gamely winner, Keeper Ofthe Stars, by a neck for third. Ridden for the first time by Trevor McCarthy, Bodhicitta was off at 12-1 and paid $8.00 to show.
Charmaine's Mia, who was off at 4-5 with Flavien Prat up, finished sixth, beaten nearly four lengths.
Fractions on the race were 22.82, 45.94, 1:09.86 and 1:34.36.
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Maxim Rate Upsets the Gamely
Maxim Rate (Exchange Rate) strode to the lead inside the final furlong and held off the late-closing duo of La Signare (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Bodhicitta (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to score the first Grade I victory of her career in the GI Gamely S. at Santa Anita Monday. Dismissed at 13-1, Maxim Rate rated kindly in fourth while racing one off the rail as heavily favored Charmaine's Mia (The Factor) took the field through fractions of :22.82 and :45.94. Maxim Rate ranged up three wide at the top of the stretch and closed determinedly down the lane, reeling in the tiring pacesetter before holding the late runners safe to the wire.
“We knew she was training really well coming into this race,” said winning trainer Simon Callaghan. “We felt that the set up would be perfect. A mile and an eighth, back here in California, I think is totally her game. We had some speed to run at and it actually turned out exactly how we wrote up the race.”
Maxim Rate was second behind Mucho Unusual (Mucho Macho Man) in last year's GI Rodeo Drive S. before winning the Oct. 25 GII Goldikova S. She ended 2020 with a fifth-place effort in the Nov. 29 GI Matriarch S. In her only previous 2021 outing, the 5-year-old mare was fifth in the Apr. 10 GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland.
“The Grade I was our main aim and to pull it off is fantastic for all of the owners, all of the Slam Dunk Team, everyone involved,” Callaghan said. “Now, we'll just space the races out and it will be nice to get to the Breeders' Cup.”
Pedigree Notes:
Maxim Rate's Gamely win gave her broodmare sire Unbridled's Song his 27th Grade I victory.
Catch My Eye, a full-sister to the dam of 2017 G3 UAE Oaks winner Nomorerichblondes (Hard Spun), has an unraced 2-year-old colt by Violence who RNA'd for $150,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. The mare produced a colt by Street Sense last year and was bred back to More Than Ready.
Monday, Santa Anita
GAMELY S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 5-31, 3yo/up, f/m,
1 1/8mT, 1:46.61, fm.
1–MAXIM RATE, 124, m, 5, by Exchange Rate
1st Dam: Catch My Eye, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Sharp Eyes, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Gaelic Bird (Fr), by Gay Mecene
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($130,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $235,000 Ylg
'17 KEESEP). O-Slam Dunk Racing, Stable Currency LLC & James
D Branham; B-Fred W Hertrich III & John D Fielding (KY);
T-Simon Callaghan; J-Juan J Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 16-6-3-0, $597,185. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–La Signare (Fr), 122, m, 6, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: La Teranga (Fr), by Beat Hollow (GB)
2nd Dam: Adrastea (Ire), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Akasma (Ger), by Windwurf (Ger)
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Tim & Anna Cambron & Bradley
Thoroughbreds; B-Moussa Mbacke (FR); T-Brendan P Walsh.
$60,000.
3–Bodhicitta (GB), 124, m, 5, by Showcasing (GB)
1st Dam: Solfilia (GB), by Teofilo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Suntory (Ire), by Royal Applause (GB)
3rd Dam: Klarifi (GB), by Habitat
(£55,000 Ylg '17 GOUKPR; £100,000 2yo '18 GOFBRE;
60,000gns 3yo '19 TATHIT; $775,000 RNA 4yo '20 FTKNOV).
O-Calvin Nguyen; B-Fonthill Farms & Mr & Mrs A Scott (GB);
T-Richard Baltas. $36,000.
Margins: HF, HF, NK. Odds: 13.90, 4.80, 12.80.
Also Ran: Keeper Ofthe Stars, Going to Vegas, Charmaine's Mia, Red Lark (Ire). Scratched: Raymundos Secret, Stela Star (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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Country Grammer Holds Royal Ship At Bay To Win Hollywood Gold Cup
In an ultra-game performance, Bob Baffert's Country Grammer battled back inside the length of the stretch and prevailed by a head over Brazilian-bred Royal Ship in Monday's Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Country Grammer got 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.23 and thus provided Baffert with his eighth Gold Cup win—equaling the legendary Charlie Whittingham, who registered his final Gold Cup win with Ferdinand in 1987.
A measured second, about a half length off of longshot pacesetter Brown Storm a half mile from home, Country Grammer gained the advantage mid-way around the far turn but was immediately engaged to his outside by Royal Ship, who appeared to be in control a furlong from the wire. Country Grammer battled back, however, and got the job done, giving Prat his first-ever Gold Cup win.
“He ran super well,' said Prat. “He broke well and I was able to get myself in a good spot. I was a little worried when I saw Mike Smith (aboard Royal Ship) on the outside of me, I wish I could have kept him inside. Mike took the lead on me, but my horse was really game to come back.”
A 4-year-old colt by Tonalist who had run his first six races for eastern-based Chad Brown, Country Grammer made his debut for Baffert in the Grade II Californian here on April 17, finishing second by a neck to Royal Ship.
Ridden for the first time today by Prat, Country Grammer was off as the 9-5 favorite in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up and paid $5.60, $3.20 and $2.60.
Owned by WinStar Farm, LLC, Country Grammer, who is out of the Forestry mare Arabian Song, took his second graded stakes and now has three wins from eight starts. With the winner's share of $180,000, he increased his earnings to $377,320.
“Elliot Walden and WinStar bought him to bring to California because they figured a mile and a quarter was his distance,” said Baffert. “His form on the dirt was really good last year. It looked like he was beat today, but he kicked it in…It's exciting. He ran a big race last time and just got beat. He was really ready to go today and I think the distance was the key. He got it done with a lot of class and determination.”
Ridden by Mike Smith, Royal Ship was trying a mile and a quarter for the first time and was gallant in defeat, finishing some 4 ¼ lengths clear of Express Train. Off at 3-1, Royal Ship paid $4.20 and $2.80.
Last early, Express Train rallied for third money, finishing a half length better than Rushie. The second choice at 2-1 with Juan Hernandez, Express Train paid $2.40 to show.
Fractions on the 84rd Hollywood Gold Cup were 22.92, 47.16, 1:12.09 and 1:37.18.
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