Fresh off of a pair of dominating turf wins, trainer Phil D'Amato's Charmaine's Mia heads a solid field of eight older fillies and mares going one mile on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
First post time for a blockbuster 12-race card on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day, Saturday, is at 12 noon PT.
Previously headquartered at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Charmaine's Mia, in her first start for D'Amato was a rousing 2 ½-length winner of the G3 Las Cienegas Stakes going six furlongs on turf Jan. 9 while dismissed at odds of 16-1.
In her first-ever try at two turns, she pressed a fast early pace and went on register an emphatic one-length win going one mile on turf in the G2 Buena Vista Stakes Feb. 20. Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, Charmaine's Mia was off as the 6-5 favorite and never looked a loser, as she opened up turning for home and won easily while remaining well in front of the gallop out around the clubhouse turn.
Owned by Agave Racing Stable and Rockin Robin Racing Stables, Charmaine's Mia is a 5-year-old mare by top sprinter The Factor out of the Bernstein mare Charming Vixen. With Prat riding her back, she figures to be a short price to annex her third consecutive stakes win and improve upon an overall mark of 27-6-4-2.
Trained by Craig Lewis, Ben and Sally Warren's homebred Warren's Showtime has been a gem of consistency, compiling an overall mark of 17-6-1-8 while amassing earnings of $593,431. Patiently handled by Juan Hernandez in the G2 Buena Vista, she found her best stride late while finishing third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Charmaine's Mia.
A 4-year-old California-bred filly by red-hot sire Clubhouse Ride out of the G1 winning Affirmative mare Warren's Veneda, Warren's Showtime, a winner five starts back of the G3 Autumn Miss Stakes at one mile on turf Oct. 17, will hope to be on the move late and if someone can soften up the top selection early, she could make the Royal Heroine finish very close indeed.
Scratched out of Saturday's G3 Santa Ana Stakes to run in the Royal Heroine, LNJ Foxwoods' homebred Tapwater comes off a solid neck victory in a one mile turf allowance and will be trying stakes competition of the first time. Trained by Richard Mandella, Tapwater has three wins from eight starts, with all of her wins coming at one mile on turf and in partnership with Flavien Prat. With Prat opting to stay with Charmaine's Mia, Tapwater will get the services of Mike Smith.
A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Tapit out of the Indian Charlie mare Fiji Moon, Tapwater earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed figure in her Feb. 12 allowance score and appears to be coming to her best for Mandella.
GRADE II ROYAL HEROINE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 9 of 12 Approximate post time 4:00 p.m. PT
- Dogtag—Umberto Rispoli–120
- Tapwater—Mike Smith—122
- Charmaine's Mia—Flavien Prat—124
- Warren's Showtime—Juan Hernandez—122
- Raymundo's Secret—John Velazquez—122
- Laura's Light—Abel Cedillo—122
- Rideforthecause—Mario Gutierrez—122
- Ippodamia's Girl—Jose Valdivia, Jr.–120
Special early first post time for a 12-race Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day card on Saturday is at 12 noon PT. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com, or call (626) 574-RACE.
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