The Coolmore contingent and Bridlewood Farm's Moonshine Memories followed a “TDN Rising Star”-worthy debut in San Diego with a front-running Grade I victory in the Del Mar Debutante Saturday evening. Breaking a step slow in her Aug. 19 unveiling over this strip, the $650,000 FTSAUG buy burst through horses to grab the lead and fended off a determined rival in the lane to earn her diploma and the “Rising Star” moniker.
Dispatched at 5-1 in this major class hike, Moonshine Memories was away alertly and retained a narrow lead over Gabrielleelizabeth (Bellamy Road) through a sharp first quarter in :21.97 with favored fellow “TDN Rising Star” Just a Smidge (Into Mischief) hot on their heels in third. Gabrielleelizabeth quickly faded to the back of pack as they hit the half in :44.85 and Just a Smidge threw in the towel a few strides later as longshot Piedi Bianchi took up the chase. Moonshine Memories and Piede Bianchi spurted clear of the rest of the field with Moonshine Memories finding just enough to hold that rival at bay by a half-length on the line. It was 5 1/4 lengths back to previously unbeaten GII Sorrento S. romper Spectator in third.
“We were actually looking for any small excuse not to run her back [in two weeks],” winning trainer Simon Callaghan said. “There was no pressure from the owners. This filly just did everything you'd want from a horse in between [starts]. She showed in the paddock, her disposition and how calm she was, is something you can't instill in them, it's within them. [During the race] I liked the way she was traveling within herself, but then you look at the fractions and you get a little worried. She just kept running potential rivals off and she was all heart at the end.”
Pedigree Notes:
Moonshine Memories' dam Unenchantedevening is a daughter of SW Evil Elaine (Medieval Man), making her a half-sister to Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old colt Favorite Trick (Phone Trick). The 13-year-old mare is also responsible for SW & GSP Indian Evening (Indian Charlie); SP Mo for the Money (Uncle Mo); the yearling filly No Joke (Distorted Humor) and a weanling colt by MGISW Honor Code. She was bred back to Malibu Moon earlier this term. This is also the female family of MGSW Favorite Tale (Tale of the Cat) and GSW Fury Kapcori (Tiznow).
Saturday, Del Mar
DEL MAR DEBUTANTE S.-GI, $300,690, DMR, 9-2, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:23.61, ft.
1–#@&MOONSHINE MEMORIES, 120, f, 2, by Malibu Moon
1st Dam: Unenchantedevening, by Unbridled's Song
2nd Dam: Evil Elaine, by Medieval Man
3rd Dam: Distinctive Elaine, by Distinctive
'TDN Rising Star' ($650,000 Ylg '16 FTSAUG). O-Bridlewood
Farm, Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor;
B-Summer Wind Farm (KY); T-Simon Callaghan; J-Flavien Prat.
$180,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $216,000. *1/2 to Indian
Evening (Indian Charlie), SW & GSP, $140,172; Mo for the
Money (Uncle Mo), SP, $127,120. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus*. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”lanesend-hip900-keesep17″][bullet ad=”lanes-end-sales-grad”][bullet ad=”bridlewood-farm-training-graduate”][bullet ad=”mcelroy-equine-recommended”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Piedi Bianchi, 120, f, 2, by Overanalyze
1st Dam: Adore You, by Tactical Cat
2nd Dam: Autumn Music, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: October Beauty, by Flying Paster
($60,000 Wlg '15 KEENOV; $80,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP; $80,000
2yo '17 OBSMAR). O-Nice Guys Stables & Jay Oringer; B-Deann
& Greg Baer DVM (IN); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $60,000.[bullet ad=”hunter-valley-farm-sold”][bullet ad=”bluewater-shell-big-fish”][bullet ad=”halcyonhammock-congrats-consigned”]3–Spectator, 123, f, 2, by Jimmy Creed
1st Dam: Diva's Tribute, by Henny Hughes
2nd Dam: Swiss Diva, by Swiss Yodeler
3rd Dam: One Stop, by Mr. Leader
O/B-Eric & Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $36,000.
Margins: HF, 5 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 5.70, 18.90, 2.30.
Also Ran: Dancing Belle, Just a Smidge, Poetic, Gabrielleelizabeth. Scratched: Gas Station Sushi.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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