Tag: Racing

A two-time Group 1 winner in her native Brazil, Phil D'Amato's Macadamia rallied to win Sunday's $100,000 Wilshire Stakes (G3) under Brazil native Tiago Pereira, as she got one mile on turf in 1:33.66.

Away smoothly from her rail post, Macadamia was pulling hard while a joint third inside of Thunder Run turning up the backside. Third, about three off of pacesetter Canoodling midway on the far turn, Macadamia angled three-deep turning for home, blew by Thunder Run and collared Canoodling a furlong out, and was never threatened by Quatroelle, who finished a troubled second, a length back.

“Hector (Berrios, aboard Quatroelle) told me his filly stumbled pretty badly leaving the gate, but that was good luck for me,” said Pereira. “My horse broke good and we had a good trip. At the half mile, I looked back and I didn't see the number seven (Quatroelle), so I said, 'Oh, OK.' At the three eighths, I asked her and she responded really well.

“My filly was really strong today and maybe she's knows I'm Portuguese. She's Brazilian, so that's a good combination.”

Second, beaten a half length by Quatroelle in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2) at one mile on March 4, Macadamia was off at 3-1 in a field of six older fillies and mares and paid $8.20 for the win.

“I have to give all the credit to Tiago Pereira,” said D'Amato. “He's been working her the past couple of months. She's been a little bit of a quirky filly and he has ironed her out. She kind of liked to make her own move and pull herself up. Through a lot of hard work on Tiago's part, we have gotten her to straighten out, level out, and keep going.

“These South American fillies, horses in general, they seem to be really hearty horses and I'm lucky to have her. We will enjoy the moment, there's a Grade 1 here in a month, so we will see what our options are and figure out a game plan.”

A 5-year-old mare by the deceased Sunday Silence stallion Hat Trick out of the Brazilian-bred Northern Afleet mare Une Autre Etoile, Macadamia got her first stateside stakes win Sunday and her second win from seven starts with D'Amato and owner R Unicorn Stable. In her native country, she won the 2021 Margarida Polak Lara (G1) at Gavea and Grand Premio Henrique de Toledo Lara (G1) at Cidade Jardim and placed second in two other top-level races that year before shipping to the U.S. to race in 2022.

With the $60,000 winner's share of the Wilshire purse, she increased her earnings to $204,413 while improving her overall mark to 4-3-2 from 12 starts.

The second choice in the wagering at 2-1, Irish-bred Quatroelle, who was in search of her third consecutive graded stakes win at the meet, stumbled badly from her outside post, causing jockey Hector Berrios to lose his right iron, which he quickly recovered, but at that point Quatroelle had been shuffled back to last. In a terrific performance, Quatroelle saved ground to the far turn, angled out turning for home and finished up well, 1 ¾ lengths in front of Very Scary.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Very Scary was third while finishing a neck in front of 9-5 favorite Closing Remarks, who lacked the necessary late rally.

Fractions on the race were :23.01, :46.75, 1:10.65, and 1:21.62.

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With a neck and a head separating the top three finishers at the end of the 1 1/2 miles on turf, it was the Dan Blacker-trained Queen ofthe Temple who prevailed by a neck under Joe Bravo in Sunday's $100,000 Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita.

Queen of the Temple got the distance in 2:26.64.

With longshot Exit Soul going to the lead from a hillside start and setting all the interior splits under Kent Desormeaux, Queen ofthe Temple, who saved ground at the rail while third into the far turn, found a seem inside Zeyaraat turning for home and gradually wore down Exit Soul in a thriller.

Most recently second going a 1 1/4 miles on turf in the Santa Ana Stakes (G3) March 12, Queen of the Temple was off as the 2-1 second choice in a field of six older fillies and mares and paid $6.40 for the win.

“What won the race was Dan's details on the horse,” said Bravo, who was aboard for the first time today. “He called me up and gave me such good instructions and details about her. It was almost like he rode the horse. Turning for home she just fought…He told me to be careful with her, if you make the lead she will kind of wait.

“At the sixteenth pole, we made the lead and she waited for the first two. It's a great feeling to have when they get up underneath you and run. She knew the horse was there and she was going to fight.”

A 5-year-old mare by Temple City out of the Read the Footnotes mare Queenameina, Queen ofthe Temple is owned by Radley Equine Inc., Roger Featherston, Rick Gold and Tony Maslowski. Third in last year's Santa Barbara, Queen ofthe Temple notched her first stakes win Sunday and improved her overall record to 2-6-3 from 13 starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $237,840.

“I'm just really thankful for all the owner, especially Mr. Featherson,” said Blacker. “He has been a big supporter of mine right from when I started training. I'm just really appreciative to him and the other owners. I'm really happy that she finally got the stakes win. She's been knocking on the door for so long and it's just a thrill.”

Irish-bred Duvet Day, fifth with a half mile to run, surged late on the far outside under Juan Hernandez to edge the pacesetter by a head for the place.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Exit Soul ran a tremendous race in defeat and despite being caught on the money, was back well in front on the gallop-out past the wire while finishing 2 ¼ length better than Zeyaraat.

Queen ofthe Temple was bred in Kentucky by Erv Woolsey and Ralph Kinder.

Fractions on the Santa Barbara were :24.36, :49.57, 1:14.45, 1:39.01, and 2:02.75.

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Kentucky-bred New York Thunder made it three straight scores to start his career after romping to victory in the $133,250 Woodstock Stakes for 3-year-olds on Sunday at Woodbine.

Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., New York Thunder, making his 3-year-old debut, was sent off as the 1-5 choice in the six-furlong Tapeta race, and thoroughly dominated his rivals to the tune of a 7½-length win in a time of 1:08.45.

New York Thunder wasn't first out of the gate, but quickly took control with Ship the Goods and Ninetyfour Expos sitting second and third, respectively, after an opening quarter mile in :22.76. Ahead by a length after a half reached in :45.18, the son of Nyquist rocketed away from his pursuers with ease around the turn for home.

It was the first stakes test for the Jorge Delgado trainee, who rolled to victory in his debut at Gulfstream in November, a 6½-length triumph on the all-weather track. One race later, on December 30, New York Thunder notched a 1¾-length win in a five-furlong turf race.

Supplemented to the Woodstock, the bay colt didn't miss a beat on another rainy day in Toronto.

“He broke really good and was really happy on the lead,” said Santana. “I was really comfortable with him. Turning for home, I could feel the company come to me. As soon as he felt it, I asked him a little bit and he took off. He [Delgado] told me the horse was ready to run. He was highly confident in the horse.”

Ninetyfour Expos, Stayhonor Goodside, Opposites Attract, Ship the Goods, and Gran Spirited completed the order of finish.

Bred by in Kentucky by Gatewood Bell and  Forgotten Land, New York Thunder was produced by Midshipman mare Start Over. He is owned by AMO Racing USA and was a $130,000 purchase from Threave Main Stud at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale.

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