The roll call of Donn H. winners through 2016 at Gulfstream Park reflects a roster of unique equine and human personalities, which is peppered with some magnificent performances that shouldn't be forgotten.

Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza won his first of three victories in 1969 aboard Funny Fellow and took home his last Donn with Foolish Pleasure in 1976.

One of the greats, Forego, captured the 1974 race. There was Deputy Minister in 1983. The legendary Cigar grabbed back-to-back races starting in 1995 for a trainer with the last name of Mott, who is still collecting accolades and giving sound speeches without notes.

And who could forget the haul by Todd Pletcher with his first Donn win in 2003 which was authored by Harlan's Holiday.

Speaking of sires, futures breeding shed stars like Medaglia d'Oro, Quality Road and Constitution, all got their picture taken after winning the Donn.

As we know, the race was renamed and its history placed on a dusty shelf. Instead of drawing from the near and visceral past, it was time to extract strength from a famous mythological winged horse slaying a dragon. Second in size stateside to only the Statue of Liberty, the completed 2014 edifice ominously guards the entrance of Gulfstream, presides over the Donn's demise and welcomes those attending Pegasus World Cup Day.

On Saturday, another edition arrives as the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. anchors a card which sports six other graded events. Looking to join the likes of Arrogate (who won the first Pegasus), Gun Runner and Life Is Good, are a dozen suitors and an also-eligible.

National Treasure schooling | Lauren King

Out of these, National Treasure (Quality Road) is the clear class leader. The Bob Baffert trainee won last year's GI Preakness S. and ended his 3-year-old campaign as the runner-up in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile to newly-minted Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin).

One of National Treasure's primary rivals, who is drawn right next to him, is Godolphin homebred GSW First Mission (Street Sense). Trained by Brad Cox, the dark bay missed last year's Triple Crown, but he has the potential to be a major player within the 2024 Classic division.

“It couldn't have gone better so far,” said Cox assistant Trace Messina. “He shipped in here early Tuesday morning and had a good gallop over the track Wednesday and another good gallop Thursday.”

First Mission was second in the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs last November. Both the winner of that race, Trademark (Upstart), and the third-place finisher, Il Miracolo (Gun Runner), also received a Pegasus invite.

Il Miracolo's trainer Antonio Sano said, “The horse has been doing very well after the [last] race. Right now, the horse is very excited and in good condition. He worked two times with [jockey Javier] Castellano and I hope to run well. I think there are four horses that show speed in the race. I hope we can find room behind the speed for the horse to close.”

As for the rest of the field, it includes Mineshaft's own GISW Hoist the Gold and MGSW Senor Buscador (who ran first and second in the GI Cigar Mile), plus the Iavarone's MGSW O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) and that 7-year-old's Saffie Joseph stablemate MGSW Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator).

The Undercard Takes to the Turf

The rest of the Gulfstream slate has an intriguing lineup. In the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S., trainer Aidan O'Brien sends GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) back to America. Since missing by a neck to newly-crowned champion female turf horse Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the filly was third in the G1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin in mid-December.

Warm Heart workout | Ryan Thompson

Last year's winner, Atone (Into Mischief) returns, along with the undefeated MGSW Integration (Quality Road), who picks up rider Tyler Gaffallione for Kendrick Carmouche.

West Point Thoroughbreds executive vice president Tom Bellhouse said about Integration's development, “He's as exciting a horse as we've had. He's just a super exciting horse. It took him a while to really get rolling and find his stride. If you look back, he had a lot of works and a lot of base. Shug [McGaughey] was always, 'I like this horse.' He's rewarded all the confidence Shug had in him. To win the race at Colonial [Downs] first time out and to come back a little less than four weeks later and win the Virginia Derby the way he did, it was spectacular. I was lucky enough to be at Aqueduct for the Hill Prince S. and it was one of those races that was never in doubt. It was really an amazing performance.”

A trio of graded turf races help to round out the Pegasus Day card. First among them is the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, which moved up a spot to become a Grade II race. Star Fortress (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the market leader at 5-2 here, made her U.S. debut a winning one by 10 lengths for trainer Cherie DeVaux in the GIII Cardinal S. at Churchill Downs last November. Chief among her rivals will be veteran 6-year-olds like GISW Queen Goddess (Empire Maker), MGSW/MGISP Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}) and MGSW/GISP Didia (Arg) (Orpen).

As an ode to the Donn's origins, also on the docket are a pair of grass distance tests at 12 furlongs–the GIII La Prevoyante S. and the GIII W.L. McKnight S.

Graded dirt races do make an appearance with the GII Inside Information S. for older females at seven furlongs, which is led by local favorite GSW/GISP Maryquitecontrary (First Dude). Also, older males traveling a mile in the GIII Fred Hopper S. will look to challenge morning-line favorite Hejazi (Bernardini), who was the runner-up in the GI Malibu S.

Heading West

Finally, the graded train also makes Saturday stops at Sam Houston Race Park and Santa Anita Park. H-Town hosts the GIII Ladies Houston Classic S. and the GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup, while the 'Great Race Place' has its own nine-furlong test on the dirt in the GII San Pasqual S.

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Cox, who won the the 2021 renewal with Knicks Go (Paynter), looks set to be represented by a pair of entrants in the nine-furlong contest. Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming), front-running winner of the GI Pennsylvania Derby last September, will seek to become the second Saudi-owned winner of the Pegasus as he looks to bounce back from a 10th in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) is also among the 12 invitees and will have the chance to turn the tables on Trademark (Upstart), who beat him a nose when last seen in the GII Clark S. at Churchill Nov. 24.

National Treasure (Quality Road), whose sire accounted for 2019 Pegasus winner City of Light, can give Baffert a third Pegasus, joining inaugural winner Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) as well as Mucho Gusto (Mucho Macho Man). Winner of last year's GI Preakness S., the bay was just touched off by Cody's Wish (Curlin) when last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Pletcher is represented by Grand Aspen (Dialed In) in the main body of the race, who earned his ticket to the Pegasus with a narrow defeat at the hooves of O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) in the GIII Harlan's Holiday S. at Gulfstream Dec. 30.

In addition to O'Connor, the Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee might be joined by his stable companion Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), the GII Charles Town Classic winner who was last seen finishing third in the Dirt Mile.

Also among the invitees are Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft), winner of the GII Cigar Mile H. trying to stretch out to nine furlongs; Newgrange (Violence), last-out winner of the GII San Antonio S.; Cigar Mile runner-up Senor Buscador (Mineshaft); GIII Smarty Jones S. hero Il Miracolo (Gun Runner); and multiple Argentinian Group 1 winner Subsanador (Arg) (Fortify), fourth in the San Antonio.

Defending champion Atone (Into Mischief) is among a dozen invitees to the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf, but looks to face a field much stronger on paper than 12 months ago. Chief amongst the opposition is Godolphin's Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who might make another trans-Atlantic trip having taken a photo in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been kept busy by trainer Aidan O'Brien, as she proved an unlucky loser in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November ahead of a third in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase last time. Arguably the most intriguing among any of the Pegasus invitees is Integration (Quality Road), who was unbeaten in three smashing victories at three in 2023, including the GIII Virginia Derby and GII Hill Prince S. Webslinger (Constitution) won three of his nine starts last term, a season that might have been even more productive but for near misses in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. and GI Hollywood Derby. Main Event (Bernardini) earned his spot in the field with an all-the-way success over Kingmax (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the GII Fort Lauderdale S. Dec. 30.

Chad Brown won the inaugural GIII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) in 2022 and has two chances to double his tally in the form of GI Matriarch S. runner-up Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}) and MGSW Consumer Spending (More Than Ready). Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) is winless in four starts since defeating the Brown-trained Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) in last year's renewal.

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“Goodwood Racecourse is one of the crown jewels in global racing,” said 1/ST Racing & Gaming CEO Aidan Butler. “It's an honor to work together with Goodwood on growing each of our events and brands at home and abroad.”

Goodwood's Director, Lord William Gordon Lennox, concurred: “Goodwood is thrilled to be partnering with 1/ST on this exciting initiative. This is a great first step in what we hope will be an exciting partnership over the coming years.”

1/ST also began a partnership this year with Royal Ascot, making Gulfstream's Royal Palm Juvenile and Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies races automatic qualifiers for entry into one of six 2-year-old races during Royal Ascot in June. Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) won both the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies and Ascot's G2 Queen Mary S.

The Goodwood partnership will include a $25,000 travel stipend to the winning connections of the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

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None of the seven entrants in the nine-furlong test seemed especially keen to lead, but eventually, Flavien Prat allowed School Dance (Animal Kingdom) through to take up the running in advance of Bellamore (Empire Maker), as odds-on Queens Goddess (Empire Maker) took back off that pair with a circuit remaining. Brazilian native Tiago Pereira, whose biggest career victory came in the 2010 G1 Dubai World Cup aboard Brazilian-bred Gloria de Campeao, had Macadmia settled at the back of the field, but not too far away, as the pace was moderate at best. Luis Saez asked Queens Goddess to apply some pressure to the outside of the leaders and hit the front going well with 2 1/2 furlongs to race, but Macadamia was traveling equally strongly in her wake a few lengths in arrears. The chalk went for home in upper stretch, but Macadamia always seemed to have the move covered and surged past late en route to a cozy success. The in-form Quatroelle (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) outfinished Queens Goddess for second.

“She is a nice filly,” said winning trainer Phil d'Amato. “I have to give Tiago a lot of credit for just getting on her every week, just breezing her and developing her. She was a quirky kind of backwards filly when we got her.

“She just needed to acclimate to North America. She's taken he time and now she is a Grade I winner. [Tiago] has a great attitude in the morning and I think it translates to the horses.”

Macadamia posted a pair of close third-place efforts from four starts on this circuit in the second half of 2022 and kicked off the new year with a 1 1/2-length allowance tally over Monday's course and distance Feb. 3. A troubled second to Quatroelle in the one-mile GII Buena Vista S. Mar. 4, the bay–still a late-season 4-year-old on Southern Hemisphere time–turned the tables with a one-length victory in the GIII Wilshire S. going eight panels Apr. 30.

Pedigree Notes:

Macadamia is one of 14 worldwide Group 1/Grade I winners for Hat Trick, who passed away in Brazil in August 2020. In the United States, the Sunday Silence stallion has been responsible for 17 stakes winners and nine at the graded level, including the additional Grade I winners King David and Win Win Win.

Macadamia is one of three winners from four to race out of her dam, a stakes-placed daughter of Fares Farm's 1991 GIII Selima S. heroine Ken de Saron, who also produced Brazilian Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt Sal Grosso (Brz) (Our Emblem) and the three-time French group-placed Jipapibaquigrafo (Irish River {Fr}).

Monday, Santa Anita
GAMELY S.-GI, $401,000, Santa Anita, 5-29, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.01, fm.
1–MACADAMIA (BRZ), 122, m, 5, by Hat Trick (Jpn)
           1st Dam: Une Autre Etoile (Brz) (SP-Brz), by Northern Afleet
           2nd Dam: Ken de Saron, by Kenmare (Fr)
           3rd Dam: Lyre de Saron (Fr), by Luthier (Fr)
O-R Unicorn Stable; B-Haras Springfield (BRZ); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Tiago Josue Pereira. $240,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly & MG1SW-Brz, 13-5-3-2, $444,413. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Quattroelle (Ire), 124, m, 5, by Mehmas (Ire)
           1st Dam: Heavenly River (Fr), by Stormy River (Fr)
           2nd Dam: Aaliyah (Ger), by Anabaa
           3rd Dam: Arpista (Ger), by Chief Singer (Ire)
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€10,000 RNA Ylg '19 TIRSEP). O-Red Baron's Barn LLC and Rancho Temescal LLC; B-Rossenarra Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Jeff Mullins. $80,000.
3–Queen Goddess, 122, m, 5, by Empire Maker
           1st Dam: Royal Story (SP), by Lemon Drop Kid
           2nd Dam: Bauble, by Tale of the Cat
           3rd Dam: Just Reward, by Deputy Minister
($285,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTSAUG; $1,525,000 4yo '22 FTKNOV). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber; B-Tolo Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $48,000.
Margins: 1, NO, 1 3/4. Odds: 6.20, 7.10, 0.80.
Also Ran: Viareggio (Ire), Bellamore, Closing Remarks, School Dance.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The Apple Blossom is such a mainstay in the older filly and mare ranks that it might be a surprise to all but those with the longest memories that the first several winners were males. It's the last 50 years that have been devoted exclusively to the ladies, resulting in a steady diet of champions in the older mare division. Despite past winners including Zenyatta, Azeri, Paseana (Arg), and Susan's Girl, the Apple Blossom seems to get better and better. Surely races don't get more exciting than in 2021 when Letruska, Monomoy Girl, and Swiss Skydiver–eventually all three Eclipse champions–came off the final turn together for an epic showdown.

Following are some of the most important Apple Blossom winners by what impact they've had on the sport through their sons and daughters.

Close Hatches (2010, First Defence–Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat), bred by Millsec, LTD.: Her first foal was Tacitus (Tapit), now a young sire whose first foals have been arriving this spring. He won three graded stakes, but also placed in six Grade I events, including the Kentucky Derby, Belmont S. , and Travers S.

Dream of Summer (1999, Siberian Summer–Mary's Dream, by Skywalker), bred by James Weigel: This lovely California-bred has consistently punched above her weight, producing GISW and sire Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway), GISW Vexatious (Giant's Causeway), and MGSW & GISP Destin (Giant's Causeway). Her current 3-year-old filly, Summer Promise (Uncle Mo), is a 'TDN Rising Star' and was runner-up in the GIII Schuylerville S. last year.

GISW Queen Goddess, descended from 1995 winner Heavenly Prize, was last seen winning the Pegasus F/M Turf Jan. 28 | Coglianese

Heavenly Prize (1991, Seeking the Gold–Oh What a Dance, by Nijinsky II), bred by Ogden Phipps: This Phipps homebred Hall of Famer produced MGISW Good Reward (Storm Cat) and GSW Pure Prize (Storm Cat), while her daughters and granddaughters have already imparted upon the sport GISWs Persistently (Smoke Glacken), Queen Goddess (Empire Maker), and Instilled Regard (Arch); GSW & MGISP Stays in Vegas (City Zip); and SW & MGISP Faithfully (Smart Strike).

Halo America (1990, Waquoit–Ameriangel, by Halo), bred by John Franks: Young sire and GI Preakness S. winner Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) is out of this gray's MGSP daughter Quick Temper (A.P. Indy).

Gorgeous (1986, Slew o' Gold–Kamar, by Key to the Mint), bred by Hermitage Farm, Inc., A. G. Clay, and R. N. Clay: Her descendants include English champion and G1SW Music Show (Ire) (Noverre); Venezuelan champion La Alpujarra (Ven) (Pioneerof the Nile); four-time GISW Turbulent Descent (Congrats); GISW Swift Temper (Giant's Causeway); GSW & MGISP All Included (Include); and a number of other black-type winners.

Bayakoa (Arg) (1984, Consultant's Bid–Arlucea {Arg}, by Good Manners), bred by Haras Principal: Despite limited opportunities, this Hall of Famer and two-time Breeders' Cup winner is the granddam of MGISW and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Fort Larned (E Dubai), MGISW Affluent (Affirmed), and GSW Walkabout (Stroll).

Love Smitten (1981, Key to the Mint–Square Angel, by Quadrangle), bred by E. P. Taylor: A full-sister to the dam of Gorgeous, above, the final three of her five living foals were all black-type winners, but she'll be remembered best as the dam of the glorious Swain (Ire) (Nashwan). The globetrotting English and Irish champion was a MG1SW on the grass, but it was his placings on the dirt in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and G1 Dubai World Cup just a neck and a nose behind Silver Charm that endeared him to American audiences.

Track Robbery (1976, No Robbery–Left At Home, by Run For Nurse), bred by Edgar Kitchen: Dam of MGSW & MGISP Train Robbery (Alydar), she's also granddam to GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Cat Thief (Storm Cat) and GISW Pohave (Holy Bull). A great-granddaughter is GSW and $2.2-million Summer Wind broodmare purchase Tapicat (Tapit).

Miss Baja (1975, Mr. Leader–Double Tollgate, by Carry Back), bred by Spears-Olsson Breeding Syndicate: She produced GSW Stoneleigh's Hope (Damascus), while her descendants include two winners of Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S. in the last decade, Peace and War (War Front) and British Idiom (Flashback). The latter also won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and was named an Eclipse champion. Others tracing to Miss Baja include GSW & GISP Rushie (Liam's Map), GSW Princess Pietrina (Spectacular Bid), and Argentina's MGSW & G1SP Papa Inc (Arg) (Include).

Summertime Promise (1972, Nijinsky II–Prides Promise, by Crozier), bred by Paul Mellon: U.S. GISW and Japanese graded producer Teddy's Promise (Salt Lake) descends from her, as do GSWs and useful sires Carson City (Mr. Prospector) and General Meeting (Seattle Slew).

Susan's Girl (1969, Quadrangle–Quaze, by Quibu {Arg}), bred by F. W. Hooper, Jr.: They don't come more hale and hearty than this Hall of Famer, multiple champion, and winner of 24 black-type events ranging from the Kentucky Oaks to the Apple Blossom, so it should be no surprise her triple Grade I-winning son Copelan (Tri Jet) would sire a number of tough and successful Florida-breds.

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“She ran pretty big,” Saez said. “Today she proved she's a beautiful and special filly. We knew she had a lot of speed but inside they had speed, too, so the plan was to try to follow the speed and be right behind, and everything went according to plan. It was perfect.”

Eclipse's Aron Wellman said, “She's matured. She's a filly we always thought would get better with age. The two times we sent her east were a very ambitious run [when fifth at 41-1] in the [2021 GI] Queen Elizabeth [II Challenge Cup] and a dirt try in the [2022 GIII] Bayakoa [at Oaklawn, where she also finished fifth]. She wasn't quite ready for it. Today we felt good about our chances.”

Pedigree Notes:

Queen Goddess is one of 39 Northern Hemisphere graded winners for her late, great sire, but the only out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare. Lemon Drop Kid is the damsire of 28 graded/group winners worldwide.

The winner's dam hails from the family of GISW Persistently (Smoke Glacken) and GSWs Good Reward (Storm Cat) and Pure Prize (Storm Cat)–the latter sired Saturday's GIII William L. McKnight S. winner Red Knight. Royal Story was acquired privately by Nixon after finishing second by a head in the 2015 Hut Hut S. at Gulfstream Park West, but failed to pan out on the track after that. She sold to Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals's Yeguada Centurion for $125,000 in foal to Mendelssohn at the 2019 Keeneland November sale and was exported to France. The resulting foal sold for €235,000 to agent Daithi Harvey for Highland Yard at the 2021 Arqana August Yearling sale.

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
TAA PEGASUS WORLD CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF INVITATIONAL S. PRESENTED BY PEPSI-GIII, $490,300, Gulfstream, 1-28, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.91, fm.
1–QUEEN GODDESS, 121, m, 5, by Empire Maker
1st Dam: Royal Story (SP), by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Bauble, by Tale of the Cat
3rd Dam: Just Reward, by Deputy Minister
($285,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTSAUG; $1,525,000 4yo '22 FTKNOV). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Gary Barber; B-Tolo Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Michael W McCarthy; J-Luis Saez. $291,000. Lifetime Record: 11-6-2-1, $761,580. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shantisara (Ire), 119, m, 5, Coulsty (Ire)–Kharana (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire). (10,000gns 2yo '20 TATGBR). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb & Robert V LaPenta; B-Mr Oliver Donlon (IRE); T-Chad C Brown. $97,000.
3–Lady Rockstar (GB), 119, m, 5, Frankel (GB)–Noozhah (GB), by Singspiel (Ire). O-Steven Parkin; B-Branton Court Stud (GB); T-Brendan P Walsh. $48,500.
Margins: 1HF, 2 3/4, 2 3/4. Odds: 4.20, 2.50, 7.50.
Also Ran: Dalika (Ger), Wakanaka (Ire), Artie's Princess, Justify My Love (Brz), Sweet Enough (GB). Scratched: Bay Storm, Mona Stella, Perseverancia. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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The 7-2 second choice, Dalika (Ger) (Pastorious {Ger}), will make her 32nd career start in the Pegasus for trainer Albert Stall, Jr.

“There's not a horse in America that is more battle-tested than her,” said Stall. “She couldn't be more fit and couldn't be more of a warrior, so we got that going for us, too.”

Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) is the 5-1 third choice for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber. The 5-year-old is coming off a 2 1/2-length victory Dec. 31 in the GIII Robert J. Frankel S. at Santa Anita for trainer Michael McCarthny. Luis Saez is scheduled to ride.

Another contender is 8-1 shot Lady Rockstar (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Wakanaka (Ire) (Power {GB}, returns at 10-1 in the Pegasus event where she made her North American debut last year. The 5-year-old Irish-bred mare started her career in Italy, where she won six of her nine starts. Since arriving in North America, Wakanaka has won a pair of stakes, including the GII Dance Smartly S. at Woodbine.

“When she first came here, she wasn't that good around two turns,” said Barry Irwin, chief executive officer for Team Valor. “But as she's raced and trained, she's gotten smarter and better. She's physically improved. She's a lot better now than she was last year. She's got a really good turn of foot. She's not a very big filly, but she's got a lot of power when she turns it on.”

The remainder of the field includes: Perseverancia (California Chrome) (15-1), Artie's Princess (We Miss Artie) (20-1), Sweet Enough (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (20-1), and Justify My Love (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) (30-1).

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The Bayakoa originally was scheduled Feb. 5 before being postponed because of a winter storm that closed the track last weekend. The Bayakoa was redrawn Monday, with the original cast of seven again entered. Probable post time for the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa, the eighth of 11 races, is 3:47 p.m. (Central). The 10th race is the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles. First post Saturday is 12:10 p.m.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Queen Goddess exits a front-running 2 ¾-length victory in the $300,000 American Oaks (G1) for 3-year-old fillies Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. The 1 ¼-mile American Oaks, moved from the grass to the main track because of rain, marked the dirt debut of Queen Goddess, a 4-year-old daughter of Empire Maker who races for her breeder, TOLO Thoroughbreds, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

McCarthy said Queen Goddess arrived in Hot Springs Feb. 1 after being flown via FedEx to Memphis and vanned approximately 190 miles.

“Little bit of a curveball with the weather,” McCarthy said Tuesday afternoon. “Not something we get much of out here in California. But the filly seems like she's doing well, even with the extended stay.”

Queen Goddess worked an easy half-mile in :53.40 Monday in advance of the Bayakoa, which is a major local prep for the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 12 and, ultimately, the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 23. The Azeri and Apple Blossom are also 1 1/16-mile races.

Queen Goddess made her first five career starts on grass, breaking her maiden at 1 1/16 miles Aug. 7 at Del Mar and finishing fifth in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Oct. 16 at Keeneland.

McCarthy said he considered staying home for the $100,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3) at 1 mile on the turf Jan. 29 at Santa Anita before opting to keep Queen Goddess on dirt and shipping to Oaklawn.

“Nothing out here kind of made sense on the schedule,” McCarthy said. “We gave some thought to the Megahertz. Her race on the dirt was so good in the American Oaks. Thought we would go back there and try our hand on that surface and if she adapted well to it, took well to it, obviously would give some thought to the Apple Blossom in the spring.”

McCarthy won the 2020 Apple Blossom with Ce Ce, among three finalists for an Eclipse Award as the country's champion female sprinter of 2021. Ce Ce punctuated her 2021 campaign with a victory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar. She finished second in the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) last Saturday at Santa Anita in her 6-year-old debut.

McCarthy said Ce Ce could return to Oaklawn this year, adding much may hinge on Queen Goddess' performance in the Bayakoa.

“I'd like for you to see both of these there in the spring,” McCarthy said.

Queen Goddess has a 3-1-1 record and career earnings of $303,080. The Bayakoa will be her second start outside California.

The Bayakoa field from the rail out:

1. Matera, Florent Geroux to ride, 119 pounds, 3-1 on the morning line;
2. Miss Bigly, Ramon Vazquez, 119, 9-2;
3. She's All Wolfe, Francisco Arrieta, 119, 12-1;
4. Jilted Bride, Joel Rosario, 119, 8-1;
5. Mariah's Princess, Martin Garcia, 119, 5-1;
6. Queen Goddess, David Cabrera, 119, 3-1; and
7. Coach, Ricardo Santana Jr., 122, 5-2.

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl won last year's Bayakoa for trainer Brad Cox, who will send out Matera and Coach.

The 1 1/16-mile Razorback drew nine older horses: Popular Kid, Super Stock, Lone Rock, Rated R Superstar, Promise Keeper, Thomas Shelby, Last Samurai, Plainsman and Silver Prospector.

Millionaire multiple Grade 2 winner Lone Rock is the 3-1 program favorite after winning 7 of 9 starts last year, including the inaugural $200,000 Tinsel Stakes Dec. 18 for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Probable post time for the Razorback is 4:56 p.m. The Razorback is a major local prep for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/8 miles April 23.

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Also reinstated by the committee is the GII Santa Anita Mathis Mile S., also run last Sunday. Conversely, the third turf test of the afternoon, the GII San Gabriel S., was automatically downgraded to Grade III status and will not be reinstated to a Grade II for the 2021 renewal.

It is the policy of the American Graded Stakes Committee that a race that is scheduled for the turf, however, is moved to the dirt after the closing of nominations because of unsuitable turf conditions, is automatically downgraded for that running only. It is at the committee's discretion to reinstate its former status.

The post American Oaks Grade I Status Reinstated appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Originally designated as a Grade 1 on turf, the eventual graded status of the American Oaks will be decided in the coming days by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Comfortable and well within herself on the lead, Queen Goddess was challenged briefly approaching the furlong pole by her McCarthy stablemate Nicest, but Queen Goddess was simply too much on the day.

A close third in a second condition allowance going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar Nov. 25, Queen Goddess was off at 14-1 in a field of 10 sophomore fillies and paid $31.20, $12.80 and $7.00.

“She showed me a lot today,” said Hernandez. “She broke really sharp. She came to run today because out of the gate, I felt that she was trying to run to get the lead and she got comfortable there and (the other horses) let me go. She held on to the lead pretty good. Around the quarter pole when she felt the other filly (stablemate Nicest), I actually felt her too, and in listening to the crowd, I could tell the other filly was coming so we started working really hard and she just kept going, she never stopped. She's a really nice filly.

“When you watch a lot of people like today, you just feel different, you feel good and I just wanted to win a race today on opening day. I'd like to thank Michael McCarthy and the owners for the opportunity, I really appreciate it.”

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and TOLO Thoroughbreds, Inc., Queen Goddess a Kentucky-bred filly by Empire Maker, picked up her first stakes win today and improved her overall mark to 6-3-1-1.  With the winner's share of $180,000, she hiked her earnings to $303,080.

Off at 7-1 with John Velazquez, Irish-bred Nicest checked in 3 ¼ lengths in front of Fluffy Socks and paid $8.40 and $5.00.

With Mike Smith up, Fluffy Socks never threatened for the win but finished three lengths in front of longshot Ivy League.  Off at 6-1, Fluffy Socks paid $4.80 to show.

The disappointment in the race was heavily favored Going Global.  Off at 4-5 with Flavien Prat, she knifed her way into contention five sixteenths from home, but came up empty in the drive, finishing sixth in her first try on dirt.

Fractions on the race were 23.30, 47.62, 1:12.87 and 1:38.14.

The post Queen Goddess Leads 1-2 American Oaks Finish For McCarthy After Race Moved Off Turf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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