Over the same surface where her half-brother Corniche (Quality Road) earned GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile stardom en route to Champion 2-year-old colt honors, it was Llorona (Mendelssohn) who effortlessly broke her maiden in the Friday opener at Del Mar's seaside oval. For her handiwork, the dark bay filly became a newly-minted 'TDN Rising Star'.
The Richard Mandella trainee at odds of 2-5 broke alertly and vied for the lead with two others up the backstretch. As the far turn arrived, Llorona clearly had more to give and at the quarter pole she began to increase her margin. With Flavien Prat serving as passenger at this point, his mount appeared to glide along as she coasted home by 5 3/4 lengths over Make It Snow (Empire Maker).
The winner's dam GISP Wasted Tears (Najran) was bred, owned and trained by Bart Evans. A juvenile maiden breaker herself at Retama Park in San Antonio, a year later in 2008 through 2010 she won 10 of 11 races as she advanced from allowance into graded stakes company–including wins in the GII Jenny Wiley S. and GII John C. Mabee S.
Evans partnered with Jeff and Chiquita Reddoch, the founders of Stonehaven Steadings, to breed Corniche, who went to Speedway Stables for $1.5 million at the '21 OBS April Sale. At Keeneland September that same year, Evans, along with his son Robert, bought out the Reddoch's share in Llorona for $750,000. Since then, Wasted Tears foaled a filly by Into Mischief Mar. 15 and she visited that multiple-leading sire again for next year.
Llorona is Mendelssohn's second 'Rising Star' after Pink Hue.
1st-Del Mar, $62,000, Msw, 12-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.80, ft, 5 3/4 lengths.
LLORONA, f, 3, Mendelssohn
1st Dam: Wasted Tears {MGSW & GISP, $941,463},
by Najran
2nd Dam: Wishes and Roses, by Greinton (GB)
3rd Dam: Anniversary Wish, by Beau's Eagle
Sales History: $750,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Bart B. Evans and Robert M. Evans; B-Bart Evans & Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella.
She made it look so easy. #6 LLORONA ($2.80) wins the @DelMarRacing opener with Flavien Prat aboard for trainer Richard Mandella and owners Bart Evans and Robert Evans. Another winner by Mendelssohn who stands at @coolmoreamerica.
Bet the Del Mar Pick 4 next on @FanDuelTV pic.twitter.com/oxWPhqSwRH
— TVG (@TVG) December 1, 2023
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