By Steve Sherack
In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.
Mancuso (f, 2, McKinzie–Medaglia d'Argento, by Medaglia d'Oro) came within a neck of putting an exclamation point on a banner weekend for her high-profile connections at Del Mar last Sunday.
Given a 7-1 chance in her unveiling for trainer Phil D'Amato, the Little Red Feather Racing colorbearer broke well from her inside draw and was ridden along by Antonio Fresu to chase in a joint second while caught in some traffic through a very sharp opening quarter in :21.37.
The heavily favored Bob Baffert-trained second-time starter Usha (Tiz the Law) continued to motor heading into the far turn and was well clear approaching the quarter pole as Mancuso and the Baffert-trained $850,000 OBS April graduate Tenma (Nyquist) began to rally in tandem.
Mancuso raced in between the Baffert pair as they turned for home and threaded the needle beautifully as they straightened. With Usha the first to blink in the stretch, it was down to Mancuso and Tenma with neither giving an inch. Mancuso fought on bravely along the inside, but just couldn't hold off Tenma in a race that didn't deserve a loser.
The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs over the fast main track was 1:04.22. Mancuso earned a very solid 77 Beyer Speed Figure.
“We've had high hopes from day one and we were patiently waiting for the right spot,” Little Red Feather's Founder and Managing Partner Billy Koch said.
“I thought she handled everything really well and I don't think she had the greatest trip of all time always being down on the inside. Turning for home it got exciting, but she was still in between horses and almost had to check a little bit because the other Baffert was tiring. Antonio Fresu said that he never could go to the whip because (Tenma) was so close and he didn't want to hit (Mancuso) left-handed thinking she might react and bump into the other filly. She's still learning and is a little bit inexperienced, but obviously the talent is there.”
Koch added with a laugh, “And who knows? If she was on the outside, maybe the roles would've been reversed and we'd be a 'TDN Rising Star' instead of on maiden watch.”
Mancuso hails from the first crop of McKinzie, who is responsible for six winners, including 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick. Bred in Kentucky by Silesia Farm, Mancuso brought $115,000 as a yearling out of the Warrendale Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland September sale. Mancuso's four-time winning dam Medaglia d'Argento, a daughter of GIII Valley View Stakes winner Meribel (Peaks and Valleys), brought $110,000 from breeder Silesia Farm while in foal to The Factor at the 2016 Keeneland November sale.
Billy Koch (center, hat) and the Little Red Feather crew celebrate Iscreamuscream's win in the GI Del Mar Oaks | Benoit
Mancuso could make her next start in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Del Mar's closing day card Sunday, Sept. 8, Koch said.
“She's a big, scopey filly with a lot of talent and we hope that she'll be able to stretch out at some point to longer distances,” Koch said. “So far, she's done everything right. She ran the way we expected her to and it's exciting.”
Little Red Feather and D'Amato also teamed up to win last Saturday's GI Del Mar Oaks with the unbeaten Iscreamuscream (Twirling Candy) and a grassy 2-year-old maiden special weight on the undercard with the promising Thought Process (Collected). Little Red Feather campaigns Iscreamuscream in partnership with Agave Racing Stable, John Hundley, Jr., Marsha Naify and John and Stacey Snyder. Thought Process's ownership group also includes Madaket Stables and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones.
“It was a lot of a fun and Mancuso winning would've been the perfect capper to the weekend,” Koch said. “Couldn't be prouder of the way the horses performed and the job that Phil D'Amato and his team have done. And for all the Little Red Feather partners, it was just a special weekend.”
The 'Second Chances' Honor Roll is headed by Horse of the Year Cody's Wish (Curlin), fellow two-time Breeders' Cup winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and GISWs A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), Honor A. P. (Honor Code), Locked (Gun Runner), Paradise Woods (Union Rags) and Speaker's Corner (Street Sense).
First time starter #7 TENMA ($14.40) finds her stride under @kazushi0096 to win Race 4 at Del Mar for trainer @BobBaffert and owner @BaomaCorp. Another winner by @DarleyAmerica's Nyquist. pic.twitter.com/wz6BTLR2Xc
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 18, 2024
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