Visually charged to the lead in deep stretch to claim her first stakes win and give both trainer Librado Barocio and her sire Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro) their first graded victories in the GIII Senorita S. at Santa Anita Sunday. Racing without blinkers for the first time in her career, the 17-1 outsider settled in mid-pack through an opening quarter in :21.85. She ranged up in the center of the track heading over the dirt course and cruised to the lead inside the final furlong before sailing under the wire a confident winner.
“We decided to sit behind the speed, which she did fine,” jockey Edwin Maldonado, who has been aboard for both the filly's career wins, said. “As soon as she relaxed, I knew I had a lot of horse turning for home. It was just a matter of getting her to the crossing right. She did the rest.”
Barocio said the change of equipment helped Visually find the winner's circle Sunday.
“I think one of the things that really helped her was I took off her blinkers,” Barocio said. “I think she just relaxed. Before with the blinkers, she couldn't see anything, or she couldn't see things she wanted to see. Here Edwin said she was looking, but she knew where she was and she just took off.”
The 59-year-old trainer had never had more than 45 starters in a single season until 2022, when he won 12 races from 82 starters. He has since expanded his stable. Last year, Barocio won 24 races from 178 starters. The Senorita was his 11th win from 63 starters so far this year.
“I want to thank California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, the Fick brothers, they gave me this opportunity and it was heaven sent,” Barocio said. “Larry Zap picked out the perfect horse and those guys are the perfect owners. They trust me and they wanted to go in this race and we went.
“This filly, she just started training really well after her last race and I told the guys, 'Hey, don't be surprised if she wins today.' And I'm so thankful to God that she did.”
Visually broke her maiden in her fifth start, going one mile over the Santa Anita lawn Dec. 26. She finished fourth, promoted to third via disqualification, when making her return in the Sweet Life S. down the hill in Arcadia Feb. 11. She was fifth in the one-mile China Doll S. Mar. 10 and was coming off a fourth-place effort in a one-mile optional claimer Mar. 24.
Pedigree Notes:
Visually is the first graded winner and second stakes winner for her sire Enticed. From his first crop to race, the stallion has also been represented by Tempted S. winner Shimmering Allure, who was second in last year's GII Demoiselle S., and Tambo, third in this year's GIII Santa Ynez S.
Eye Candy Annie has a yearling filly by Munnings who sold to Hartley/DeRenzo's AAA Thoroughbreds for $190,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. The mare, who was bred to Yaupon last year, is a half-sister to graded-placed K. D.'s Shady Lady (Maria's Mon), dam of Grade I winner Lady of Fifty (After Market).
Sunday, Santa Anita Park
SENORITA S.-GIII, $101,500, Santa Anita, 5-5, 3yo, f, 6 1/2fT, 1:12.91, fm.
1–VISUALLY, 120, f, 3, by Enticed
1st Dam: Eye Candy Annie, by Candy Ride (Arg)
2nd Dam: Annie's Apple, by Shawklit Won
3rd Dam: Maid for Steele, by Rare Performer
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($15,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $23,000 Ylg '22 OBSOCT; $20,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing LLC, Fick Brothers Racing Inc., Dario Bernardi, and George P. Monty; B-Thorough Bred by Design LLC (KY); T-Librado Barocio; J-Edwin A. Maldonado. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 9-2-1-2, $139,400. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rascality, 120, f, 3, Into Mischief–Taking Aim, by Trappe Shot. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($190,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT). O-Legacy Ranch, Inc.; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $20,000.
3–Laulne (Fr), 124, f, 3, Starspangledbanner (Aus)–Lady Francesca (GB), by Montjeu (Ire). (€750,000 2yo '23 ARARC). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Panic Stable LLC, Gerard Augustin-Normand, Robert V. LaPenta and William Strauss; B-Franklin Finance S.A. (FR); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000.
Margins: 1, HF, HD. Odds: 17.00, 3.60, 2.70.
Also Ran: Girl of My Dreams, Shamrockin, Antifona (Fr), Alluring, Flattery.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
🖌️🎨Enticed?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Enticed's daughter Visually paints a beautiful picture when winning the G3 Senorita Stakes @santaanitapark! 🔥Congratulations to all the connections! 🙌 https://t.co/TZ7k1bwbS1
— Darley in America (@DarleyAmerica) May 5, 2024
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