The Richard Mandella trainee at odds of 2-5 broke alertly and vied for the lead with two others up the backstretch. As the far turn arrived, Llorona clearly had more to give and at the quarter pole she began to increase her margin. With Flavien Prat serving as passenger at this point, his mount appeared to glide along as she coasted home by 5 3/4 lengths over Make It Snow (Empire Maker).

The winner's dam GISP Wasted Tears (Najran) was bred, owned and trained by Bart Evans. A juvenile maiden breaker herself at Retama Park in San Antonio, a year later in 2008 through 2010 she won 10 of 11 races as she advanced from allowance into graded stakes company–including wins in the GII Jenny Wiley S. and GII John C. Mabee S.

Evans partnered with Jeff and Chiquita Reddoch, the founders of Stonehaven Steadings, to breed Corniche, who went to Speedway Stables for $1.5 million at the '21 OBS April Sale. At Keeneland September that same year, Evans, along with his son Robert, bought out the Reddoch's share in Llorona for $750,000. Since then, Wasted Tears foaled a filly by Into Mischief Mar. 15 and she visited that multiple-leading sire again for next year.

Llorona is Mendelssohn's second 'Rising Star' after Pink Hue.

1st-Del Mar, $62,000, Msw, 12-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:10.80, ft, 5 3/4 lengths.
LLORONA, f, 3, Mendelssohn
                1st Dam: Wasted Tears {MGSW & GISP, $941,463},
                                by Najran
                2nd Dam: Wishes and Roses, by Greinton (GB)
                3rd Dam: Anniversary Wish, by Beau's Eagle
Sales History: $750,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Bart B. Evans and Robert M. Evans; B-Bart Evans & Stonehaven Steadings (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella.

She made it look so easy. #6 LLORONA ($2.80) wins the @DelMarRacing opener with Flavien Prat aboard for trainer Richard Mandella and owners Bart Evans and Robert Evans. Another winner by Mendelssohn who stands at @coolmoreamerica.

Bet the Del Mar Pick 4 next on @FanDuelTV pic.twitter.com/oxWPhqSwRH

— TVG (@TVG) December 1, 2023

The post Corniche’s Half-Sister Llorona Effortless At Del Mar, Now A ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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5th-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 2:14 p.m. ET.
Courtlandt Farms purchased Whocouldaskformo (Uncle Mo) for $450,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. She debuts for Shug McGaughey alongside fellow firster and workmate, Very Practical (Practical Joke).

Whocouldaskformo's dam Midnight Belle (Bernardini) is a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song), who went to Whisper Hill Farm at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale for $3.6 million while in foal to Tapit. She produced two-time champion Unique Bella (Tapit). Midnight Belle is also a half-sister the dam of GIII Gotham S. hero Raise Cain (Violence). TJCIS PPS

The post Friday Insights: Half-Sister To Champion Corniche Debuts At Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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