In what amounts to a gem in the training profession, Leonard Powell's French-bred Neige Blanche overcame a nine-month layoff to successfully defend her title in Sunday's $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita as she refused to be denied between horses late, taking a three-horse photo by a neck and providing jockey Diego Herrera with his first-ever Thoroughbred stakes win.
Neige Blanche covered the demanding 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:01.44.
With a hillside start, trainer Michael McCarthy's Australia Mia went to the front in the run by the Grandstand for the first time, holding a one-length edge over post time favorite Buzz of New York, with Neige Blanche and Queen Ofthe Temple in close attendance third and fourth.
Turning for home, Australia Mia had a 1½-length lead on Neige Blanche, who had Buzz of New York to her immediate outside. In a thrilling head and head battle, a neck and a head separated the top three on the money.
“I monitor the heart rate of all my horses and I have a scale, so I put her on and I knew she was on par to where she was last year, so it gave me confidence,” said Powell, himself a French native. “Everybody was asking me questions this morning, so I started doubting myself. She got it done today.
“At the three-eighths when Diego got boxed in a little bit, when the riders were riding 'Neige' more than the other horses, it gave me some anxious moments, but Diego stayed cool and she showed her heart.”
Idle since finishing off the board here in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) on Oct. 8, Neige Blanche, a six-time North American stakes winner coming in, was off as the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.80 for the win
“She broke fairly well,” said Herrera, who rode Neige Blanche in the afternoon for the first time Sunday. “Leonard told me to just keep her wherever she was comfortable, she was moving really nice. Around the half-mile pole, they started to pick it up and I just was following the pace.
“At the three-eighths, I got boxed in but she is a game filly, so I just tried to remain calm. When I got the split at the quarter pole, it was all business from there. We are just grateful to be able to ride for people like Leonard, the owners and all the connections. Just grateful for everything.”
A 6-year-old mare, Neige Blanche is owned by Laura De Seroux, Marsha Naify and Mathilde Powell. With seven overall stakes wins in Southern California, one Group 3 win in France and and four North American graded victories, Neige Blanche is now 10-0-4 from 22 career starts. With the Possibly Perfect's winner's share of $60,000, she has lifetime earnings of $602,780.
Bred by Ecurie du Stud, Neige Blanche is by Anodin out of Bianca Neve, by Muhtathir. Navick International bought her for $485,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, where she was offered in the Gainesway consignment.
Ridden by Joe Bravo, Queen Ofthe Temple, in search of her second consecutive stakes win, bested pacesetter Australia Mia by a head.
In a remarkable front-running effort, Australia Mia finished 2¾ lengths in front of longshot Zeyaraat.
Buzz of New York, the 8-5 favorite with Juan Hernandez, tired through the drive and checked in last.
Fractions on the race were :24.15, :48.84, 1:13.03, and 1:37.09.
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