Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
‘Moonshine’ may skip BC prep
DEL MAR, Calif. - Moonshine Memories may race exclusively at Del Mar this year.
Moonshine Memories won her stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies. She may not race again until the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
“My thought is to wait,” trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday. “We know she loves the track.”
By not racing until the BC Juvenile Fillies, Moonshine Memories would miss the next major prep in California – the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 30. Callaghan said he is comfortable starting Moonshine Memories in the BC Juvenile Fillies at 1 1/16 miles without a prep race at the distance.
“I don’t think with this filly it’s that important with her pedigree,” Callaghan said.
Moonshine Memories is by Malibu Moon and races for Bridlewood Farm, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier.
The $300,690 Del Mar Debutante was run at seven furlongs and was the second start of the Del Mar summer meeting for Moonshine Memories. She won her career debut in a maiden race at six furlongs Aug. 19 and made a quick turnaround for Saturday’s race. She earned an 84 Beyer Figure for the Debutante after an 83 in her maiden win.
In the days after the maiden race win, Callaghan said he planned to wait for the Chandelier with Moonshine Memories. He changed his mind after watching the filly train in late August.
Piedi Bianchi and Spectator, second and third in the Del Mar Debutante, are likely for the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes.
The Del Mar Debutante was the stakes debut for Piedi Bianchi, who is trained by Doug O’Neill. Spectator was beaten for the first time in her third start in the Debutante. She won a maiden race at Santa Anita on June 23 and her stakes debut in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 5.
Trainer Phil D’Amato said Spectator suffered minor cuts after bumping with Just a Smidge at the start. Spectator closed from sixth in the final quarter-mile to finish 5 3/4 lengths behind Moonshine Memories.
“She came with a little bit of a run,” D’Amato said.
Just a Smidge was the 8-5 favorite in the Del Mar Debutante after beating maidens in her debut July 19. Just a Smidge was second behind Moonshine Memories on the turn, but faded to finish fifth, beaten eight lengths.
“She got slammed into Spectator,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “That might have knocked her off her game. I don’t think we would have beaten the filly that won.”
Baffert considers Just a Smidge to be a candidate for the Chandelier.
“I think she wants to go two turns,” he said.
Cambodia possible for BC
Cambodia may take owner Don Robinson and trainer Tom Proctor to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4 on the merits of her recent starts.
Cambodia swept the two Grade 2 turf stakes for fillies and mares at the Del Mar summer meeting – the Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles Aug. 5 and Saturday’s John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. The Mabee is run at the same distance as the BC Filly and Mare Turf.
Before the summer meeting, Cambodia was only a Grade 3 winner, in the Gallorette Stakes at Pimlico in May. Her recent success has led to a different outlook, Robinson said in the winner’s circle.
“She did pass a test,” he said. “She loves it here.”
Robinson said he and Proctor will discuss plans for Cambodia in coming weeks.
Cambodia rallied from sixth in a field of 13 to win the $202,760 Mabee Stakes by three-quarters of a length as the 5-2 favorite over Goodyearforroses, who was also 5-2. The Mabee was the first start for Goodyearforroses since a second to Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita in May. She raced in traffic into the stretch and closed well in the final furlong.
“She was a little unlucky, but she ran a good race,” trainer Richard Baltas said Sunday morning. Cambodia earned a 100 Beyer in the Maybee.
St Patrick’s Day eyes FrontRunner
St Patrick’s Day, a full brother to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, is likely to run in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes for 2-year-olds at Santa Anita on Sept. 30 after beating maidens Saturday.
Trained by Bob Baffert for Susan Magnier, St. Patrick’s Day led throughout a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs to prevail by a halflength over Instilled Regard, a first-time starter bought for $1,050,000 earlier this year.
St Patrick’s Day was timed in 1:17.81 and earned a 73 Beyer.
“He was impressive because he took all the heat in the one hole and he had every chance to give it up,” Baffert said Sunday morning. “That was a tough field.”
Earlier in the day, Baffert won the first division of a maiden race for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs with Solomini, a colt by Curlin. Flavien Prat rode both winners.
Baffert hinted that one of his 2-year-old colts could be sent to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 7.
“I’ll have to decide whether to separate them or what,” he said.
The FrontRunner Stakes and Breeders’ Futurity winners receive fees-paid berths to the BC Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
Yesterday’s News, by New Year’s Day, may have a future on turf after winning a maiden race at a mile on dirt for 2-year-old fillies in Saturday’s second race.
Yesterday’s News was fourth in two sprints for maidens in July before the breakthrough performance for owners Paul and Zillah Reddam.
“I think going long was the key for her,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “I wouldn’t be against trying her on the turf.”
One option at the Santa Anita autumn meeting is the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-yearold fillies at a mile on turf on Oct. 9.