Talk about keeping good company.
Kirstenbosch (Midnight Lute), a 4-year-old making her 17th lifetime start for trainer John Sadler, has not raced out of graded-stakes company since her third-place finish in the GI La Brea S. Dec. 26. Perhaps more impressively, she's been on the board in all but three of the eight starts since that post-Christmas trifecta. And though absent of the winner's circle since victory in the GIII La Canada S. Jan. 15, Kirstenbosch has run second or third to GISW Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) and a pair of Friday's rivals in GSW/GISP Elm Drive (Mohaymen) and GISW Eda (Munnings).
Facing an opportunity to turn the tables on those rivals, Friday's 6-1 shot spotted the field a step at the break and trailed with only Lady T (Into Mischief) to keep her company as the remaining five runners all vied for command into the opening furlong. Several lengths out of it still as the speed began to sort itself out into the turn, Kirstenbosch had Clearly Unhinged (Into Mischief), Home Cooking (Honor Code) and Elm Drive to catch as heavily-favored Eda was already under a ride from fourth. Switched inside around the bend and back out again at the top of the lane, she had a clear path to victory and surged past Clearly Unhinged inside the final sixteenth to score the upset.
“What I've been talking about with Keith (Abrahams) is it is not the distance for her, it is the setup, and she finally got the setup she wanted, which is faster,” said trainer John Sadler. “She always puts in a good late run, but if they go slow in front it's sometimes hard for her.”
When asked about a potential next run in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Sprint, Sadler didn't hesitate: “Yes, because it's seven eighths and you might get a strong pace,” he added.
Pedigree Note:
A Keith Abrahams homebred, Kirstenbosch is the third foal and third winner out of GIII Las Cienegas S. runner up Llandudno, also campaigned by Abrahams. She'd previously produced stakes winner and GII Monrovia S. runner up Constantia (Munnings) and reported a yearling full-brother to Friday's winner. Hill 'n' Dale stallion Midnight Lute, himself a champion sprinter, is perhaps best known for his prolific $5.5m Keeneland November sale-topping daughter and Champion older dirt mare Midnight Bisou.
Friday, Santa Anita
CHILLINGWORTH S.-GIII, $101,000, Santa Anita, 9-29, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:15.37, ft.
1–KIRSTENBOSCH, 126, f, 4, by Midnight Lute
1st Dam: Llandudno (GSP, $150,160), by Belong to Me
2nd Dam: And Guess What, by Kris S.
3rd Dam: T. V. Residual, by Pirate's Bounty
O/B-Keith Abrahams (KY); T-John W. Sadler; J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 17-4-5-2, $521,480. *1/2 to Constantia (Munnings), SW & GSP, $209,192. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Clearly Unhinged, 118, f, 3, Into Mischief–Smart Win, by Smart Strike. O-Rock Brother Racing LLC; B-Rock Brothers Breeding LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $20,000.
3–Eda, 126, f, 4, Munnings–Show Me, by Lemon Drop Kid.
($240,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $550,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Baoma Corp; B-Nathan McCauley (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $12,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1HF, 4HF. Odds: 6.50, 4.20, 0.60.
Also Ran: Elm Drive, Violent Runner, Lady T, Home Cooking.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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Chillingworth Stakes at 