Consistent Charmaine's Mia rung up her third consecutive graded stakes victory of the meeting as she led gate to wire in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., winning by a half length. Trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat, Charmaine's Mia got a mile on turf in 1:33.76.
Breaking from post position three, she held a one-length advantage over Laura's Light heading into the first turn and was in control thereafter, but was all-out to hold off the late run of Dogtag, who simply ran out of real estate.
A one-length winner of the G2 Buena Vista Stakes over the course on Feb. 20, Charmaine's Mia, a 5-year-old mare by top sprinter The Factor, was off as the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10.
Dogtag, trained by Richard Mandella and idle since a fifth Aug. 2 at Del Mar, rallied well and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of consistent Warren's Showtime. Off at 6-1, Dogtag paid $4.80 and $3.20.
California-bred Warren's Showtime put in her customary solid stretch run, but was third best under Juan Hernandez. Off at 5-1, she paid $2.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.59, 46.02, 1:09.86 and 1:21.72.
Post-race quotes:
FLAVIEN PRAT, CHARMAINE'S MIA, WINNER: “For some reason she's really good out there. She always leaves really fast and she relaxed down the backside and responded when it was time to go. I was hoping she would break like she did and take advantage of it otherwise, I would probably sit and get her to relax. She's really brave and she was training really hard. It's great to have family here and fans.
UMBERTO RISPOLI, DOGTAG, SECOND: “She went phenomenal, I mean she was out for a long time to come back in a good race like that, and the winner I think she's a very classy good filly. Flavien broke off and put a good pace on it, and then she give him the kick at the quarter pole. Actually, my plan was to just track him from close, but my filly from way off she break a little bit slower than usual. I got a good trip because I'm just right behind Raymundos Secret and you know, the winner, but at the same time, Flavien has that kick, and that advantage at the top of the stretch took that away from me. Probably if I track him from close, it would probably be a different story, I don't know if I can get him, but definitely I can give him more hard time, as much as I do.”
PHIL D'AMATO, CHARMAINE'S MIA, WINNER: “Flavien got her out beautifully and he rated her perfectly. Once he shot out of there like a rocket, he made her relax and he had enough to hold off Dogtag.” (What's next?) “We are looking at a Grade 1 race here at Santa Anita about five or six weeks down the road.”
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