By Alan Carasso
Looking to extend her unbeaten streak to four, C R K Stable's Medoro (Honor Code) was made to work for it, but ultimately outbattled a very tough Shiloh's Mistress (Vino Rosso) in the GIII Providencia S. at Santa Anita.
The 1-5 mortal looked to step away a half-step slowly under Antonio Fresu, relegating her to a rearward position through the opening exchanges, as Shiloh's Mistress pushed through from the fence to take up the running beneath Umberto Rispoli. A fraction headstrong as a result of the tardy dispatch, Medoro got her way and tugged her rider towards the lead, splitting horses under the line before settling just off Shiloh's Mistress in second.
The pace was moderate at best, and Shiloh's Mistress–having her first start on the turf–bowled along at her leisure on the engine, but Medoro was also not having to do much work to match strides and the two were more or less on even terms nearing the stretch. Medoro was asked to kick and put a head in front with a furlong and a half to race, looking the more likely of the two, but Shiloh's Mistress refused to lie down and was just on the losing end of the bobber.
“I really like this filly, she's very tough,” Fresu said. “Today wasn't an easy spot because she was going a little longer and there was not much speed in the race. I was just trying to get her relaxed and get her into a nice position.
“I was just waiting for the turn to home to ask her to go,” Fresu continued. “She did it, but then she kind of wanted to stay with some company. The other horse was coming to me and she kept fighting to the end. She is just a good filly and she wants to win.”
It was the third time in her four starts that Medoro had found herself in a battle to the finish. Up in the dying strides to graduate by a head in a five-furlong maiden at Del Mar Dec. 1, she was again forced to dig deep late when prevailing by a neck in the Dec. 29 Blue Norther S. Given a bit of a breather, the bay was exiting a 2 1/4-length 'romp' in the China Doll S. Mar. 10 and was being asked to stretch beyond a mile for the first time on Saturday.
Pedigree Notes:
Medoro is the eighth graded winner for Honor Code, who was expatriated last year to Japan to continue his stud career.
Port Royal Breeding acquired Medoro's dam, twice placed in the Osunitas S. at Del Mar, for $140,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale. Achira's dam Styler, a full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, is the dam of five winners from five to the races, including two-time stakes winner Almond Roca (Speightstown) and Grade III-placed Calistoga (Speightstown), dam of the stakes-placed Napa Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}). Styler's daughter Veronique (Mizzen Mast) produced WinStar Farm's stakes-winning stallion Nashville (Speightstown). The third dam also includes Jerry Moss luminaries MGISW Tiago (Pleasant Tap) and GSW/MGISP Stanwyck (Empire Maker).
Achira is also the dam of a juvenile colt by Speightstown, a yearling colt by Honor A. P. and was most recently bred to Not This Time.
Saturday, Santa Anita Park
PROVIDENCIA S.-GIII, $100,500, Santa Anita, 4-20, 3yo, f, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.95, fm.
1–MEDORO, 124, f, 3, by Honor Code
1st Dam: Achira (MSP, $151,852), by English Channel
2nd Dam: Styler, by Holy Bull
3rd Dam: Set Them Free, by Stop the Music
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Parks Investment Group, LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton; J-Antonio Fresu. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $216,600. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shiloh's Mistress, 120, f, 3, Vino Rosso–Ahh, by Saint Liam. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($235,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Resolute Racing; B-Stoneway Farm (KY); T-Michael McCarthy. $20,000.
3–Circle of Trust, 120, f, 3, Union Rags–Open House, by Tapit. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-James E. Downey; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $12,000.
Margins: NO, 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 0.20, 7.40, 5.60.
Also Ran: Pink Whitney, English Danger, Brand New Dream. Scratched: Lamporghini, Sakura Blossom.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
MEDORO ($2.40) WAS SO TOUGH!
She remained undefeated by nosing out a very game Shiloh's Mistress in the $100,000 Providencia Stakes (G3) at @SantaAnitaPark. @Antonio1Fresu guided the 3-year-old Honor Code filly to victory for trainer @EurtonRacing. pic.twitter.com/qyrbhIm7sA
— TVG (@TVG) April 20, 2024
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