Dismissed at 18-1, trainer Paddy Gallagher's Angel Nadeshiko pulled off a front-running heist in Saturday's $100,000 Robert J. Frankel (G3) at Santa Anita as she had plenty left in the tank late to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
Allowed to make an easy lead while in-hand under Antonio Fresu around the first turn, Angel Nadeshiko strolled through fractions of :25.67, :51.16, 1:15.41, and 1:38.98 over a turf course softened some by early morning rain and listed as good.
With fellow longshot Rebel Girl second, a length behind the winner going to the far turn, Fresu asked for more, and Angel Nadeshiko shook loose, and kept Lakota Spirit at bay.
Angel Nadeshiko finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.69.
Fresu said he followed Gallagher's instructions.
“He told me to put her on the lead; she used to run really well when she was in front before,” Fresu said. “There was no other pace other than me, so I just took an easy lead and I tried to do my job. Obviously, Paddy brought her in in good shape, it was a well deserved win for him.”
Most recently fifth in one-mile Dark Mirage at Los Alamitos on Sept. 23, Angel Nadeshiko, a 4-year-old filly by Carpe Diem, was winless in her last seven starts dating back to December 2022. She returned $39.80 for Saturday's triumph.
Owned by U.S. Equine, Angel Nadeshiko, who is out of the Arch mare Cianchetta, notched her first stakes win and her third overall win from 16 career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, she improved her earnings to $227,780.
Lakota Spirit, ridden by Juan Hernandez, saved ground while a close third most of the trip and fired off the turn for home but couldn't overcome the slow pace set by the winner, finishing second.
Ridden by Flavien Prat and like Lakota Spirit, trained by Phil D'Amato, Oakhurst was third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Lakota Spirit.
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