TDN RISING STARS

July 20, 2014 - Del Mar, Race 8, Msw, USD $75,000, 5F

Luminance, f, 2, 2012 by Tale of the Cat

1st Dam: Siren Serenade, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Versailles Treaty, by Danzig
3rd Dam: Ten Cents A Dance, by Buckpasser

Owner: Kaleem Shah Inc
Breeder: Nobutaka Tada (KY)
Trainer: Bob Baffert

Luminance, a $320,000 KEESEP graduate, was sent off the prohibitive 1-2 favorite off a series of sparkling drills. Drawn eight for the debut, she was off seemingly without incident, but was under a busy ride from Martin Garcia to pick up the bit. With most of her rivals down to the inside of her, Luminance, now hard against the steel, had no choice but to remain wide on the track and took the worst of it, while Conquest Archangel (Blame), runner-up to "TDN Rising Star" and Friday's GIII Schuylerville S. runner-up Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), enjoyed an inside trip and was able to save valuable ground towards the stretch. But Luminance, forced to rally six wide into the lane, continued on undaunted and hit the front a furlong from home to win by 2 1/2 lengths while traveling 30 feet more than Conquest Archangel. Luminance hit the wire in :57.39, with her ultimate eighth of a mile in :12.03, to break the track record set earlier in the afternoon by fellow "TDN Rising Star" Tara's Tango. Blandford Bloodstock signed the ticket on Siren Serenade, with this foal in utero, for $300,000 at the 2012 KEEJAN sale. The daughter of MGISW Versailles Treaty and half-sister to GISW George Vancouver (Henrythenavigator) and GSW Saarland (Unbridled), produced a colt by Scat Daddy in 2013 and a filly by War Front this year.