Tamahere Gets Tested For Class in Matriarch

Tamahere (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) looks to become the first 3-year-old filly since Better Lucy (Ghostzapper) in 2012 to defeat older turf distaffers in what appears to be a loaded renewal of the GI Matriarch S. Sunday at Del Mar.

One of three in the race for trainer Chad Brown–who won this in 2017 and 2018–the bay filly was twice a winner in seven French runs for Francois Rohaut, including a listed event at La Teste in June. She made an enormous impression when making her stateside debut in the GII Sands Point S. at Belmont Oct. 10, lagging well off a modest tempo before rocketing home to score by a two-length margin that belies the ease with which it was accomplished. She gets three pounds from her elders and could get the race run to suit her closing style.

Sharing (Speightstown) also represent the sophomore set and trainer Graham Motion, successful in this event with Miss Temple City (Temple City) in 2016. The 2019 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress, the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad won the Tepin S. first off the layoff in May, then was a very game second to the talented Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 20. Returned to the States, she proved too classy for her peers in the GII Edgewood S. on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, but faces her stiffest test to date against horses that are significantly faster on paper.

Joel Rosario is a four-time Matriarch winner-including the Brown aforementioned Brown gallopers-and he has the call aboard the tepid 7-2 morning-line favorite Viadera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}). A stakes winner in Ireland under the care of Ger Lyons, the 4-year-old was fourth to stablemate Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the GIII Intercontinental S. in June, but has since bounced back to take the restricted De La Rose S. at Saratoga and comes off a neck defeat of stable companion Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in Belmont’s GIII Noble Damsel S. Sept. 26.

Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Dansili {GB}) led into the final furlong of last year’s Matriarch, but was run down and forced to settle for third to Got Stormy (Get Stormy). The 5-year-old looks to follow up on a one-length tally in the GIII Gallorette S. at Pimlico Oct. 3 over yielding turf she never looked comfortable on.

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Brown Stablemates Viadera And Blowout Could Face Off Again In Grade 1 Matriarch

Trainer Chad Brown reported that his one two-finishers of Saturday's Grade 3 Noble Damsel, Viadera and Blowout, both emerged from their efforts in good shape and will likely square off once more in the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch on November 29 at Del Mar.

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Viadera notched her second stakes victory in her third start in the United States in the one mile test over the Widener turf, where she was placed at the rear of the field early on, saved ground to the inside and prevailed to get up at the right time by a neck under jockey Joel Rosario.

“He rode a really good race,” said Brown, who secured a fifth straight victory in the Noble Damsel. “He was able to save some ground and she was able to get up at the last jump.”

Rosario also piloted Brown-trained Off Limits (2017) and Uni (2018) to Noble Damsel triumphs, both of whom won the Matriarch at the end of their respective years.

Viadera, a 4-year-old bay daughter of Bated Breath, arrived at the Noble Damsel off a narrow victory in the De La Rose on July 17 at Saratoga, where she defeated stable mate Noor Sahara (fourth in the Noble Damsel) by a neck. A victory in the Matriarch would give Juddmonte Farms a record seventh triumph in the race after previously winning with champions Ryafan (1997), Heat Haze (2003), and Intercontinental (2004).

But it was Blowout who Brown said impressed him the most. Peter Brant's consistent daughter of Dansili out of Group 1 winner Beauty Parlour set torrid fractions on the front end, and the favorite still had enough left to hang on for second.

“Those were just insane fractions,” Brown said. “It showed the heart and the talent that she has to nearly still pull it off. It was remarkable to me. I was most impressed with her. Both horses ran terrific and so far, they look good. If they do well this next month, we'll point them both to the Matriarch.”

Never off the board and never beaten more than three-quarters of a length in 10 lifetime starts, Blowout is still in search of her first graded stakes win but scored triumphs in the Wild Applause last June and the Pebbles last September going one mile over the Widener turf.

“She's very consistent,” Brown said. “She's been very unlucky in a couple of her losses, but she's a developing horse with a lot of ability and super well-bred as well. I'll believe she'll have her day winning a graded stakes.”

Earlier on the card Brown saddled the Brant-owned American West to a debut victory going a one-turn mile over the Belmont main track, where she earned a 65 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. The juvenile daughter of Curlin is out of stakes placed Jacaranda, who is a half-sister to leading second crop sire Constitution.

“She came out of the race well, we'll talk to Peter Brant about what we'll do with her and just see how she trains,” Brown said.

Bred in Kentucky by Alpha Delta Stable, American West was purchased for $925,000 from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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Late Rally By Viadera Gives Chad Brown Fifth Straight Noble Damsel

Juddmonte Farms' Viadera ran down pacesetter and stablemate Blowout in deep stretch, surging up the rail to take command in the final sixteenth and post a victory by a neck to give trainer Chad Brown the exacta in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Noble Damsel for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The English-bred Viadera, who won her first North American race at second asking last out in the De La Rose on July 17 at Saratoga Race Course, won her first graded stakes appearance in the United States while giving Brown his fifth consecutive victory in the Noble Damsel with five different horses.

Another Brown-trained English bred, the 2-1 favorite Blowout, led the nine-horse field through the early going, breaking sharp from the gate and opening an advantage on Sweet Bye and Bye in going through a brisk quarter-mile in 22.17 seconds and the half in 44.85 on the firm Widener turf, with Viadera saving ground in seventh position.

Out of the turn, Blowout continued to hold a slim lead over a game Sweet Bye and Bye, with Joel Rosario urging Viadera up to an advantageous position before angling to the inside, where she picked off rivals before finding a seam near the rail.

Approaching the wire, an all-out Viadera got the lead with the fellow Brown trainee to her immediate outside, completing the course in a final time of 1:32.06.

“I was in a good spot and there was a lot of speed,” said Rosario, who teamed with Brown for his third Noble Damsel win in four years. “For a second, I thought they were going to get away from me, but I was comfortable where I was, and I just tried to ride her from there. When it was time to go, she kicked good.

“It looked like I might have to go between horses [in the stretch] but they came off the rail and I took a chance to go to the rail and hope not to get blocked inside,” he continued. “She kept coming and coming. She ran super.”

Off at 5-1, Viadera returned $13 on a $2 win wager. She improved her career earnings to $211,441. Her effort was another in a list of Brown triumphs in the turf route, joining a list that includes Significant Form [2019], 2019 Eclipse Award Turf Female-champion Uni [2018], Off Limits [2017] and Mrs McDougal [2016].

“The winner, Viadera, really got a great trip from Joel [Rosario] and she's a fine filly in her own right. She's really put it together her last two starts with two nice wins,” Brown said.

Blowout, owned by Peter Brant and ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, was the runner-up for a third consecutive race, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Sweet Bye and Bye.

“Blowout probably ran the best race,” Brown said. “The fractions were grueling, and it was hard to stomach watching it unfold but she held on gamely and nearly won. I'm so proud of her effort and surprised that any horse could hold on and battle to the wire and almost win.

“They ran super. Viadera got a great setup saving all the ground and I'm really proud of her,” he added. “Blowout ran probably the best race. For her to set those fractions and still battle on, I'm so proud of her. Both horses really ran terrific.”

Joseph M. Imbresi's Sweet Bye and Bye, conditioned by Tony Dutrow, ran third to earn graded stakes blacktype for the second time in three career efforts.

Noor Sahara, the third Brown trainee, finished fourth, with Chaleur, Atomic Blonde, Feel Glorious, Getmotherarose and Lemon Zip completing the order of finish. Another Broad, entered for the main track only, was scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday with another 10-race card. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

 

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Viadera Outfinishes Brown Stablemate Noor Sahara To Win De La Rose

An extra eighth of a mile appeared to make all the difference for Juddmonte Farms' Viadera, who chased a slow pace under jockey Joel Rosario and made up ground at the right time, edging stablemate Noor Sahara by a neck in the $85,000 De La Rose at one mile over Saratoga Race Course's inner turf on Friday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Chad Brown, Viadera arrived off a distant fourth to Grade 1-winning stablemate Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 3 Intercontinental at seven furlongs on June 6, marking her first start in North America and contested over a yielding turf at Belmont Park.

“She kind of lost herself back in the field in her last race,” Brown said. “We expected her to get better position this time. I thought Joel did a great job. She just lost her way [last time out] and lost contact with the field. She didn't really show much interest until late when she made a little run. Coming out of that race, she trained a lot sharper.”

The 4-year-old bay daughter of Bated Breath broke sharply from the gate under Rosario and tracked in fourth to the outside of Noor Sahara while Xenobia set the pace through a leisurely opening quarter-mile in 24.95 seconds, with 8-5 favorite Catch a Bid a length behind in second. With the half-mile in 49.60 seconds, Xenobia extended her advantage to 1 ½ lengths while Viadera continued to maintain her position on the course labelled good.

Around the far turn, Viadera received her cue from Rosario as she began inching her way into contention. Noor Sahara put her head in front just past the sixteenth pole, but Viadera made up ground at the right time to hit the wire in 1:38.17. Noor Sahara finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Passing Out.

Completing the order of finish were Clara Peeters, Catch a Bid, Xenobia and Hogan's Holiday. Blowout and main track only entrant Bridlewood Cat were scratched.

“The longer distance today helped. She was very good today,” said Rosario, who guided fellow Juddmonte Farms color-bearer Filimbi to victory in the 2014 De La Rose. “I followed Irad [Ortiz, Jr. aboard Noor Sahara] and there were two horses in front of him. It was a great trip and she was able to finish with a galloping finish.”

Now a four-time winner of 11 starts, Viadera kept a perfect record over a flat mile intact and is unscathed in three starts at the distance.

“I was really pleased with her trip. Joel [Rosario] got to know her that first time out,” Rosario said. “It's been frustrating. She's been ready to run for months now and with cancelations and such, we had to just sprint her the first time. She got a race under her belt, but she trained much sharper the second time out, and she showed that leaving the gate.”

Viadera rewarded her backers in returning $14.40 for a $2 win bet and cashed a $46,750 check while improving her lifetime earnings to $156,441.

Brown offered praise for runner-up Noor Sahara, who also was making her second start in North America.

“She got a perfect trip really. She was right there,” Brown said. “There was a little jockeying when the horse on the outside took the lead and Tyler [Gaffalione, aboard No. 1, Catch a Bid] took back. There was a little musical chairs there for a bit, but I thought all three of my horses had good trip. Viadera was just best.”

On fifth-place finisher and post time favorite Catch a Bid, Brown noted that the moisture in the turf may have contributed to her run.

“It was a little disappointing down the lane that she didn't punch,” Brown said. “We'll have to reevaluate. But also, this turf, there's some moisture in it today and it's probably not for every horse. Some horses moved up and some horses moved down.”

A Great Britain homebred, Viadera is out of the Beat Hollow broodmare Sacred Shield.

Live racing returns on Saturday with an 11-race card which features the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for 3-year-olds over the inner turf and the Grade 1, $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies over the main track. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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