Under a bold ride from Frankie Dettori, European shipper Raqiya upset the $302,500 Goldikova Stakes (G3T) in front-running fashion Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Capitalizing on a lack of early pace, the Shadwell Stable homebred seized the advantage from the jump and set moderate fractions under a steady hold. Well in hand through fractions of :23.04 and :48.38, Raqiya responded willingly when opposed by fellow Euro runner Kathmandu turning for home. Repelling that rival, she surged to the wire a comfortable 1 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:36.09 for the mile over a firm turf course.
Uncorked and favored Sacred Wish rallied to get up for second and third, respectively.
Unraced since a group 3 victory at Goodwood Racecourse in July, Raqiya registered her third black-type score in eight trips to the post. The 3-year-old daughter of Blue Point returned $12.20 from a $2 win ticket.
“I just said to Frankie (Dettori) if she jumps well, go for it,” said trainer Owen Burrows. “I just basically left it to Frankie. I was very comfortable in that she would stay so I wasn’t too bothered by the stepping up to a mile. Obviously, we were very concerned with the draw but look, he gave her a great ride on the front didn’t he? He dictated from the front, quicken up on the bend and it worked out well.”
Video: Goldikova S. presented by Yaamava’ (G3T)
Hope Road Conquers Older Rivals in Bayakoa
In the first feature stakes of Breeders’ Cup Championship Saturday, Hope Road rolled to her fourth consecutive score for trainer Bob Baffert when she defeated older fillies and mares in the $200,500 Bayakoa Stakes (G3).
Hope Road wins the Bayakoa Stakes
Exiting an emphatic score over 3-year-old fillies over this course in the Torrey Pines Stakes (G3), Hope Road was bet down as the 1-5 favorite in her third graded test. Breaking on top, the Quality Road filly controlled the pace from pillar to post through splits of :22.38, 46:11, and 1:10.73. Turning back mild pressure at the top of the stretch, she quickened to the wire and fended off late challenges from Alpha Bella and Desert Dawn to prevail by a half-length.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Hope Road ($2.60) stopped the clock in 1:36.51 for the mile on a fast main track.
Alpha Bella was second by half-length over Desert Dawn.
“We expected her to do what she did,” Baffert said of Hope Road. “She’s getting better and better. We’re developing her in a slow, nice way. It’s good to have these kind of horses. We were very fortunate to train her mother (Marley’s Freedom) and she can run farther than her mother. She’s speed; she’s really fast.”
Hope Road is a homebred for Cicero Farms, who campaigned her grade 1-winning dam, Marley’s Freedom (Blame ). Also trained by Baffert, Marley’s Freedom bankrolled more than $1.2 million and posted six triumphs at the graded stakes level.
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