With longshot Gracelund Gray going to the front, Adare Manor, who was well in-hand, tracked her to the 3 ½-furlong pole and began to inch away as she quickly asserted her superiority.  Turning for home, the Las Virgenes was a fait accompli, as Adare Manor opened up six widening lengths on Queen of Thorns in what developed into an equine procession.

“Today, I engaged her right from the gate and she got a little bit strong at the first turn, so I had to grab her a little bit to slow her down the first part of the race,” said Velazquez, who was aboard for a 12 length, gate to wire maiden victory at the same distance on Jan. 7.  “Once we got to the half mile pole, I kind of put my hands down on her and her long stride just kept going like that.

“I just left her alone and let her get into her rhythm, and she just showed up today.  I looked back a couple of times and I slowed it down.  I looked up and saw they were pretty far (back) and I backed up, thinking, I should save something here although she was breathing fire up front.  I didn't want to ask her down the lane and then Bob would get mad at me.  I definitely wanted to save something.”

In her first stakes appearance, Adare Manor, a filly by Uncle Mo out of the Giant Gizmo mare Brooklynsway, was off at 2-5 and paid $2.80 and $2.10 with no show wagering.

“She duplicated her last race, you know, she's got that big, long stride on her,” said Baffert, who notched his record sixth win in the Las Virgenes.  “I sprinted her twice and I thought she'd win each of those times and then I thought, well, she wants to go long…She's like an amazon, she's got that big, powerful (way of moving).

“She's got that big frame but she's quick.  She relaxed nicely today… I think that time is pretty serious on this track.  Just gotta keep 'em healthy.  I've run her twice now (at the current meet), I don't want to come back too quick with her.”

Adare Manor is now 4-2-1-0 and with the winner's share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $176,600.

In what amounted to a separate race, Queen of Thorns, who was second turning for home, stayed there, finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Miss Everything.  Ridden by Flavien Prat, Queen of Thorns was off at 5-2 and paid $2.60 to place.

Fractions on the race were 22.72, 46.66, 1:11.06 and 1:23.75.

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Adar Manor is joined in the gate by her more accomplished stablemate Eda (Munnings). Victorious in both the Anoakia S. and Desi Arnaz S. in the fall, the $550,000 OBSMAR buy captured the GI Starlet S. when extended to two turns at Los Alamitos last out Dec. 4.

The Bob Baffert-trained duo face a flashy maiden winner in Queen of Thorns (Violence). The $300,000 OBSAPR purchase went wire-to-wire in her six-panel career bow at Santa Anita Jan. 1, cruising home an eight-length winner.

The post Baffert Duo Top Las Virgenes Field appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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With 50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to be awarded to the winner, the Santa Ynez takes on added significance as America's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies looms on April 30 at Churchill Downs. Saturday's second, third and fourth place finishers will receive 20, 15 and five points respectively.

Third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Kalypso in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes here on Feb. 6, trainer Michael McCarthy's Moraz will likely go as the second choice in the Santa Ysabel, which will be her fourth career start. A recent mile and one sixteenth maiden winner at Golden Gate Fields, McCarthy's A Real Hero will be a longshot with Flavien Prat aboard.

Owned by David Bernsen, LLC and Rockingham Ranch, Kalyspo, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Brody's Cause, out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Cove, broke her maiden going six furlongs four starts back in the ungraded Anoakia Stakes on Oct. 18 and then showed the way prior to running second, beaten 1 ½ lengths going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 5.

Off at 4-5 in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes going seven furlongs on Jan. 3, Kalypso pressed the pace and prevailed by 1 ¾ lengths. Subsequently second as the even money favorite going one mile in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 6, she was no match for Richard Mandella's Moonlight d'Oro, who rallied powerfully through the lane to prevail by 1 ½ lengths.

Although second twice at two turns, Kalypso, who will be making her seventh start, retains the services of Joel Rosario and is strictly the horse to beat on Sunday.

Owned by her breeder, Don Alberto Corporation, Moraz, who was a dazzling 11 length maiden winner going a flat mile two starts back on Jan. 8, kept to her task in the Las Virgenes when beaten 1 ¾ lengths by the top selection and her connections are hoping she has enough upside to turn the tables.

By Empire Maker out of the A.P. Indy mare Malvinia, Moraz will be making her fourth start and be handled by regular rider Umberto Rispoli.

Bet down to 3-5 as she stretched out to a flat mile in her second start on Oct. 23, Baoma Corporation's homebred Beautiful Gift stalked the early pace and rallied gamely for a half length win. By Medaglia d'Oro out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift, Beautiful Gift also appears to have ample upside and will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.

Baffert's Heels Up, who has been idle since running third in the 6 ½ furlongs Dezi Arnaz Stakes Nov. 14 at Del Mar, will be stretching out for the first time in what will be her fourth start. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Heels Up, a daughter of Twirling Candy out of the Tale of the Cat mare Tale Untold, will likely be forwardly placed under Drayden Van Dyke, who will be aboard for the first time.

THE GRADE 3 SANTA YSABEL WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 9 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

1. A Real Hero—Flavien Prat—120
2. Beautiful Gift—John Velazquez—120
3. Heels Up—Drayden Van Dyke—120
4. Kalypso—Joel Rosario—120
5. Moraz—Umberto Rispoli—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1st.com/bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Baffert-Trained Kalypso Headlines Sunday’s Oaks Prep At Santa Anita Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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With an avalanche of late money coming her way, Kalyspo darted to the Las Virgenes lead under Joel Rosario and maintained a one-length advantage over Honor America and Moraz as the field headed up the backside five furlongs out.

Last but only 2 ½ lengths off the leader while on the move mid-way around the far turn, Moonlight d'Oro wheeled three-wide turning for home and met little resistance from the favorite as she won going away under a hand ride.

“I was trying to see if I should stay inside or go around, and I decided to go around,” said Prat. “She was there for me when I asked her to go.  Rosario was at the front and nobody was really bothering him, but when I came around the turn, I made that great move and tried to get some momentum out of it. She was traveling nicely behind horses, and I was very happy with how she ran.”

An impressive three-length maiden winner at the same distance on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos, Moonlight d'Oro was the second choice at 6-5 in field of five sophomore fillies and paid $4.60, $2.20 and $2.10.

“It turned out good. I was worried she got a little washy going to the gate, and she was a lamb over at Los Alamitos where she should have gotten upset,” said Mandella. “Sometimes you take them over to something like that and then the next time they're looking for the excitement.”

Owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, LLC, Moonlight d'Oro, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, out of the Bernardini mare Venetian Sonata, now has two wins from four starts and with the winner's share of $120,000, increased her earnings to $163,040.

“How can you do any better than they have done?” Mandella said of the owners. “Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup.”

An important prep to the G2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3, the Las Virgenes winner will receive 10 Kentucky Oaks (April 30) qualifying points, with four, two and one given to those finishing underneath.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Kalypso finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Moraz and paid $2.40 and $2.10.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli and trained by Michael McCarthy, Moraz was off at 4-1 and paid $2.10 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.25, 47.47, 1:12.72 and 1:25.17.

The post Moonlight D’Oro Overtakes Kalypso In Las Virgenes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Richard Mandella sends out impressive maiden winner Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who scored by three lengths in her first try at two turns at Los Alamitos Dec. 13. Second in that one-mile event was Frosteria (Frosted), who returned to be second again in the Santa Ynez.

Third in that Dec. 13 Los Al maiden was debuting Moraz (Empire Maker). The Don Alberto homebred returned to air by 11 lengths in a one-mile special weight at Santa Anita Jan. 8.

The post Kalypso Looks to Double Up in Las Virgenes appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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An important prep to the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3, the Las Virgenes winner will receive 10 Kentucky Oaks (April 30) qualifying points, with four, two and one given to those finishing underneath.

The 4-5 favorite in her first try at two turns, Moonlight d'Oro pressed the early pace and drew off to a solid three length win going a flat mile on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos under Flavien Prat, who will ride back in the Las Virgenes. A $620,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Moonlight d'Oro finished a close second as the 3-5 favorite in her five furlong debut Aug. 2 and was then third, beaten 1 ½ lengths going six furlongs on Nov. 7.

Owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, LLC, Moonlight d'Oro is by Medaglia d'Oro and is out of the Bernardini mare Venetian Sonata. With a Las Virgenes-best 87 Beyer Speed figure in hand, she'll be making her fourth career start on Saturday.

Never worse than third in five starts, Kalypso was second going a mile and one sixteenth in the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos on Dec. 5 and cut back in distance to register a 1 ¾ length win going seven furlongs in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes here on Jan. 3 as the 4-5 favorite. Off at 11-1 in the Starlet, she tired late, calling into question her ability to beat top caliber competition routing.

Owned by David Bernsen, LLC and Rockingham Ranch, Kalypso, a chestnut filly by Brody's Cause out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Cove, got an 81 Beyer in winning the Santa Ynez and retains the services of Joel Rosario.

A gutty nose maiden winner going six furlongs on Jan. 10, the Shelbe Ruis-trained Honor America will stretch out for the first time in her third start and be ridden back by leading man Juan Hernandez. Owned by Ruis Racing, LLC, Honor America is by Into Mischief, out of the Honour and Glory mare Honour Isabel, Honor America sold for $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic 2-year-olds in training sale in May of 2020.

Claimed two starts back on Nov. 20 out of a maiden $50,000 claiming win going six furlongs, Doug O'Neill's Brilliant Cut was then head and head with Kalypso for the early lead in the Santa Ynez and finished third, beaten 3 ¼ lengths. Owned by ERJ Racing, LLC, David Kenney, William Strauss and Dennis and Doug O'Neill, Brilliant Cut will be ridden back by Ricky Gonzalez as she tries two turns for the first time in what will be her sixth start.

THE GRADE 3 LAS VIRGENES STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT

1. Moraz—Umberto Rispoli–120
2. Kalypso—Joel Rosario—120
3. Moonlight d'Oro—Flavien Prat—120
4. Honor America—Juan Hernandez–120
5. Brilliant Cut—Ricky Gonzalez—120

Early first post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon. All of Santa Anita's races are available free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager via 1st.com/Bet.

The post Oaks Points On The Line As Moonlight D’Oro Will Be Tested In Las Virgenes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The bay Medaglia d'Oro filly owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC is coming off an impressive maiden win at one mile, sashaying home first by three lengths as the 9-10 favorite last Dec. 13 under Flavien Prat, who will be back up in the $200,000 Las Virgenes.

“We'll see how good she is,” said Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who won his first Las Virgenes in 1993 with Likeable Style ridden by Gary Stevens and his second in 2013 with champion Beholder under the late Garrett Gomez.

Moonlight d'Oro worked six furlongs Wednesday in a bullet 1:12.60.

Mandella said Border Town is likely for this Saturday's G3 Thunder Road at a mile on grass, while Extra Hope “is nominated in case it looks like rain and it ends up a dirt race.”

Border Town also is nominated to the San Marcos Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on grass which had been scheduled to be run Sunday but was moved back a week when nearly 2 ½ inches of rain inundated the area Friday.

The post ‘We’ll See How Good She Is’: Moonlight d’Oro To Make Stakes Debut In Las Virgenes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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