A two-time Group 1 winner in her native Brazil, Phil D'Amato's Macadamia rallied to win Sunday's $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3) under Brazil native Tiago Pereira, as she got one mile on turf in 1:33.66.
Away smoothly from her rail post, Macadamia was pulling hard while a joint third inside of Thunder Run turning up the backside. Third, about three off of pacesetter Canoodling midway on the far turn, Macadamia angled three-deep turning for home, blew by Thunder Run and collared Canoodling a furlong out, and was never threatened by Quatroelle, who finished a troubled second, a length back.
“Hector (Berrios, aboard Quatroelle) told me his filly stumbled pretty badly leaving the gate, but that was good luck for me,” said Pereira. “My horse broke good and we had a good trip. At the half mile, I looked back and I didn't see the number seven (Quatroelle), so I said, 'Oh, OK.' At the three eighths, I asked her and she responded really well.
“My filly was really strong today and maybe she's knows I'm Portuguese. She's Brazilian, so that's a good combination.”
Second, beaten a half length by Quatroelle in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2) at one mile on March 4, Macadamia was off at 3-1 in a field of six older fillies and mares and paid $8.20 for the win.
“I have to give all the credit to Tiago Pereira,” said D'Amato. “He's been working her the past couple of months. She's been a little bit of a quirky filly and he has ironed her out. She kind of liked to make her own move and pull herself up. Through a lot of hard work on Tiago's part, we have gotten her to straighten out, level out, and keep going.
“These South American fillies, horses in general, they seem to be really hearty horses and I'm lucky to have her. We will enjoy the moment, there's a Grade 1 here in a month, so we will see what our options are and figure out a game plan.”
A 5-year-old mare by the deceased Sunday Silence stallion Hat Trick out of the Brazilian-bred Northern Afleet mare Une Autre Etoile, Macadamia got her first stateside stakes win Sunday and her second win from seven starts with D'Amato and owner R Unicorn Stable. In her native country, she won the 2021 Margarida Polak Lara (G1) at Gavea and Grand Premio Henrique de Toledo Lara (G1) at Cidade Jardim and placed second in two other top-level races that year before shipping to the U.S. to race in 2022.
With the $60,000 winner's share of the Wilshire purse, she increased her earnings to $204,413 while improving her overall mark to 4-3-2 from 12 starts.
The second choice in the wagering at 2-1, Irish-bred Quatroelle, who was in search of her third consecutive graded stakes win at the meet, stumbled badly from her outside post, causing jockey Hector Berrios to lose his right iron, which he quickly recovered, but at that point Quatroelle had been shuffled back to last. In a terrific performance, Quatroelle saved ground to the far turn, angled out turning for home and finished up well, 1 ¾ lengths in front of Very Scary.
Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Very Scary was third while finishing a neck in front of 9-5 favorite Closing Remarks, who lacked the necessary late rally.
Fractions on the race were :23.01, :46.75, 1:10.65, and 1:21.62.
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