Jim Downey’s Circle of Trust joined the graded stakes-winning ranks when she rallied down the lane to win the $101,000 Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) June 1 at Santa Anita Park.
The 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies featured a field of seven. Sea Dancer and rider Jeremy Laprida were aggressive early, opening up a two-length lead while setting a pace of :23.21, :47.04, and 1:11.50.
Circle of Trust and rider Antonio Fresu were fifth, about three lengths off the lead after six furlongs. With Fresu asking the Union Rags filly for her run on the far turn, she angled four wide as she gained on the leaders. The top three fillies after six furlongs all faded in the lane as Circle of Trust led a parade of closers to the top four spots.
Circle of Trust, trained by Phil D’Amato, defeated second-place Sakura Blossom by 1 1/4 lengths.
“I think she won impressively,” Fresu said.
Faith Understood and rider Mike Smith, who encountered some traffic through the far turn into the stretch, rallied to finish third, another 1 3/4 lengths back. The winner’s time for 1 1/8 miles on firm turf was 1:48.40. She paid $8.20
Circle of Trust is out of the unraced Tapit mare Open House, a half sister to grade 1 winner West Will Power . The winner was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West.
Union Rags, winner of the 2012 Belmont Stakes (G1), stands at Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky. His 2024 stud fee is $15,000.
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