TDN RISING STARS

May 27, 2017 - Belmont Park, Race 7, Msw, USD $75,000, 6F

Rubilinda, f, 3, 2014 by Frankel (GB)

1st Dam: Rubina (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Riyafa (Ire), by Kahyasi (Ire)
3rd Dam: Riyama (Ire), by Doyoun (Ire)

Owner: Don Alberto
Breeder: Don Alberto (KY)
Trainer: Chad C. Brown

Rubilinda (Frankel {GB}) became the first U.S. winner for turf sensation and sophomore sire Frankel with an ultra-impressive last-to-first victory to become the newest “TDN Rising Star.� Hammered down to 3-2 favoritism from a 6-1 morning-line quote, the Don Alberto homebred broke slowly from post 10, trailing the field through a swift first quarter in :22.01. Steadily advancing through a half in :45.03, the bay kicked it into high gear when given the signal by Jose Ortiz, flying up four wide in mid-stretch to win going away by 3 1/4 lengths. Remarque (Arch), a 32-1 shot, completed the exacta. “Very impressive,� remarked winning trainer Chad Brown, protégée of the late, great Bobby Frankel, for whom Rubilinda’s sire was named. “She missed the break there, maybe because of the delay after backing out or something. She broke slow, which was disappointing, and for her to overcome that and win by open lengths, I’m quite impressed.� Brown added, “I had her last year as a 2-year-old in the summer. She had a couple breezes and started to have some baby issues, nothing major but wasn’t quite right. I have a really good client, Don Alberto, and I called them up and they said, ‘No problem, we like her. Let’s bring her home and give her some time to get over it.’ They were nice enough to send her back to me, and here we are.� The Heller-Solari family’s Don Alberto Stable purchased the SP Rubina (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) with the winner in utero for 475,000 guineas at the 2013 Tattersalls December sale. Rubilinda is the first foal out of the 8-year-old mare, who is also responsible for the juvenile filly Ruffina (Street Cry {Ire}) and an Empire Maker colt born Feb. 6 of this year. Don Alberto also bred and race Cunco (Ire) (–Chrysanthemum {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), winner of this year’s G3 Bet365 Classic Trial, and now under the care of Brown in the U.S.