Kaleem Shah's Madone made it a perfect three-for-three with a late-charging victory in the Surfer Girl S. at Santa Anita Sunday. Made the even-money favorite off of two wins going a mile over the Del Mar lawn, the dark bay filly settled well off a quick pace. She made rapid progress nearing the lane and pounced to the lead at midstretch before gamely holding off Tetragonal, who came from last to just miss. Purchased for $125,000 at this year's OBS March sale off a :10 1/5 breeze, Madone opened her career with a one-length victory over the Del Mar lawn July 31 and she closed late to add the Sept. 6 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf S. last time out.
“I liked where we were after the first quarter, it seemed like they were going fast enough up front,” said winning rider Flavien Prat. “The fractions don't say it, but down the backside, it seemed like they slowed it down a little so I moved and I think I moved a little too soon. When she makes the lead, she pulls herself up a little. In all of her races, she doesn't win by much, but she's got a lot of talent.”
Conditioner Simon Callaghan added, “They went fast, which we thought could happen, so Flavien just let her settle back early and let her get comfortable. He made a big move with her and thankfully she had enough to hold off the filly that was running at us.”
Callaghan confirmed that Madone would now point for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 6.
“She is professional, she has really grown up a lot,” he said. “She took a little bit of time to come around, but she's really developing into a real professional.”
The winner hails from the extended female family of Grade I winners Gold Fever and Boisterous. She has a yearling half-sister by Astern (Aus) who was purchased by agent Ben McElroy, who also purchased Madone. Indian Love Call produced a Cairo Prince colt this term before being bred back to Gormley.
SURFER GIRL S., $102,000, Santa Anita, 10-4, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:34.83, fm.
1–MADONE, 122, f, 2, by Vancouver (Aus)
1st Dam: Indian Love Call, by Cherokee Run
2nd Dam: Mood Music, by Kingmambo
3rd Dam: Lead Kindly Light, by Majestic Light
($70,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $125,000
2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Kaleem Shah, Inc.; B-Glendalough LLC
(KY); T-Simon Callaghan; J-Flavien Prat. $60,000. Lifetime
Record: 3-3-0-0, $141,300.
2–Tetragonal (Ire), 118, f, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Crystal Snowflake
(Ire), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€22,000 Ylg '19 TIRSEP).
O-Slam Dunk Racing & Joey Platts; B-Mrs Mary Gallagher (IRE);
T-Richard Baltas. $20,000.
3–Pizzazz, 118, f, 2, War Front–A Little Bit Sassy, by More Than
Ready. O-Perry R. II & Ramona S. Bass, Ramona S.; B-Bass
Stables, LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $12,000.
Margins: NK, 3HF, NO. Odds: 1.10, 25.50, 8.20.
Also Ran: Closing Remarks, Canoodling, Maxim Strider, Consternation (Ire), Nimbostratus (Fr), Reign of Fire.
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