Moonshine Memories staying busy

ARCADIA, Calif. – Moonshine Memories arrived at Del Mar in mid-July as an unraced prospect. She left unbeaten in two starts and the leader of the California 2-year-old filly division.

“When we took her to Del Mar, we were planning a maiden at the end of the meet,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “It’s amazing how far she’s come, really.”

Moonshine Memories won a maiden race on Aug. 19. Two weeks later, she won her stakes debut in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs.

Those wins have provided a foundation for another vital test in Saturday’s Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. Moonshine Memories is one of two stakes winners in a field of eight, along with Terra’s Angel, who won the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 4.

Piedi Bianchi, Dancing Belle, and Just a Smidge, who were second, fourth, and fifth in the Del Mar Debutante, will attract support, along with the Del Mar maiden-race winner Alluring Star.

The winner of the $300,000 Chandelier receives a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

KEY CONTENDERS

Moonshine Memories, by Malibu Moon Beyers: 83-82

◗ In the days after the Del Mar Debutante, Callaghan said Moonshine Memories was likely to skip the Chandelier Stakes and be trained up to the BC Juvenile Fillies. He changed his mind as September unfolded.

Last weekend, Callaghan said the nine-week gap between the Debutante and BC Juvenile Fillies “would be a long time to keep her feet on the ground.”

◗ Owned by Bridlewood Farm and the Coolmore partnership of Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Susan Magnier, Moonshine Memories will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who was aboard for the Del Mar Debutante. Moonshine Memories has led throughout her two wins, but Callaghan said she doesn’t have to set the pace.

“She’s shown a lot of ability and class,” he said. “She can be anywhere.”

◗ A greater test will be the distance. Moonshine Memories won the Del Mar Debutante by a half-length after leading by two lengths with a furlong remaining.

“She’s such a relaxed filly, and she’s got the pedigree to do it,” Callaghan said. “I think it will be no problem.”

Terra’s Angel, by Drosselmeyer Beyers: 59-59-60

◗ Terra’s Angel was third in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes in her California debut on Aug. 5 at 56-1. In the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile, Terra’s Angel closed from third in a field of 14 to win by a half-length at 19-1.

◗ Trained by Dallas Keen, Terra’s Angel is the only runner in the Chandelier with a win around two turns. Jockey Sasha Risenhoover is likely to position Terra’s Angel as a stalker.

Just a Smidge, by Into Mischief Beyers: 60-88

◗ After a dazzling maidenrace win at five furlongs at Del Mar on July 19, Just a Smidge was sent off the 9-5 favorite in the Del Mar Debutante. She faded quickly to finish fifth, eight lengths behind Moonshine Memories.

“I don’t know what happened,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I was very disappointed. She’s come back to work well. We’ll have to throw it out, I guess.”

◗ The Baffert-trained Alluring Star won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 3 in her debut, drawing clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths. She set the pace in that race and is expected to be near the front in the Chandelier.