BLUE NORTHER S., $78,435, Santa Anita, 12-30, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:34.64, fm.
1–GIZA GODDESS, 120, f, 2, by Cairo Prince
1st Dam: Comfort and Joy, by Harlan's Holiday
2nd Dam: Comfort Zone, by Rubiano
3rd Dam: So Cozy, by Lyphard
($200,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Mercedes
Stables LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth,
Dorothy and David Ingordo & F. Steve Mooney; B-Clarkland
Farm (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs; J-Brice Blanc. $46,440. Lifetime
Record: 6-2-0-1, $92,980. *Second stakes winner for freshman
sire (by Pioneerof the Nile).
2–Colonial Creed, 120, f, 2, Jimmy Creed–Neverthesame, by
Scat Daddy. ($160,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Doug Branham,
Richard Baltas & Jerry McClanahan; B-Doug & Felicia Branham
(KY); T-Richard Baltas. $15,480.
3–Thriving (GB), 120, f, 2, Kodiac (GB)–Najam (GB), by Singspiel
(Ire). (30,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT; 110,000gns 2yo '18 TATAHI).
O-Red Baron's Barn LLC and Rancho Temescal LLC; B-Rabbah
Bloodstock Limited (GB); T-Jeff Mullins. $9,288.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, HD. Odds: 5.60, 6.00, 4.30.
Also Ran: Lady Prancealot (Ire), Courteous, Splashy Kisses, Cedars of Lebanon (Ire), Data Storm Kitty.
Giza Goddess became freshman sire Cairo Prince's second stakes with a determined victory in the Blue Norther S. at Santa Anita Sunday. The gray filly was caught four wide going into the first turn before settling off the pace behind a quarter in :23.08. She rushed up to challenge for the lead after a half in :46.54, stuck a head in front in upper stretch. Three furlongs from home, Giza Goddess appeared to shift in about a half lane and at that point, Colonial Creed and Rafael Bejarano got shuffled back a bit. After holding Colonial Creed at bay for the half-length victory, Giza Goddess then survived an inquiry and a claim of foul by Bejarano. The stewards determined the incident did not cost Colonial Creed a better placing and no change was made.
“I was a little worried because she was leaning on horses today,” admitted winning jockey Brice Blanc. “She's still a little green, but she's got a ton of potential. I've had the chance to ride her on the grass in all three of her most recent starts and she keeps improving every time. I think there's more potential. She still doesn't know exactly what she's supposed to do and that's what happened today when I passed Rafael. She started to lean a little bit and went on. It was enough to look a little tight.”
Switched to the turf after opening her career with three off-the-board main-track efforts, Giza Goddess was third at Del Mar Nov. 10 before a resounding 5 1/4-length maiden victory at the oceanside oval Dec. 1.
“I think switching to the turf is what has moved her up,” said winning trainer John Shirreffs. “It's made all the difference with this filly. It was nice to be able to run back again at a mile, but beating maidens is one thing and beating winners is another. After a maiden win you always wonder how they're going to do against winners. This was a big step up for her and in her last race, she had the outside post so she had to hustle to get to the lead. I was wondering if she'd settle well today, and she did.”
Comfort and Joy, a half-sister to graded stakes winner The Pamplemousse (Kafwain), was bred to Cupid this year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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