Mirth (Colonel John) took the field from gate-to-wire in Santa Anita's GI Rodeo Drive S., earning her black-type badge and a berth into the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf in Arcadia Nov. 2. It was the second graded score of the day for trainer Phil D'Amato, who also saddled GII John Henry Turf Championship S. victor Cleopatra's Strike (Smart Strike).
Away in good order from her rail draw, the 6-1 shot seized the early advantage, clicking off early splits of :23.72, :47.53 and 1:11.05 on a comfortable lead. Elysea's World turned up the heat entering the turn, but Mirth quickly scooted clear of that rival and coasted home to a facile victory. Favored Beau Recall came flying late for second and Elysea's World held third.
“She was kind of a late entry into the race,” said D'Amato. “We were the lone speed and Mike [Smith] just kind of doled it out the right way and had plenty left.”
“I've watched her, and she's been running dynamite,” said Smith. “It looked like she wasn't far from pulling one of these off, so I knew it was in her. It was just a matter of whether I could get a little brave and start marching a little early. She doesn't really have a turn of foot; she just seems to keep staying and keep going. I felt like I had gotten away with that at the half-mile pole, so going into the turn I started marching on where I was going to lengthen everybody's kick instead of trying to make an explosive move. It worked today. It might not work next time, but it worked today.”
Dangled for a $16,000 tag when breaking her maiden at fifth asking at Delaware in 2017, Mirth reeled off two more wins at Laurel in 2018 for Barlar LLC and Bernard Houghton. Privately purchased by Little Red Feather and sent to D'Amato, she was off the board in her seasonal bow here Jan. 27, but won by a neck next out going nine panels over this course Feb. 23. Third in an Apr. 6 optional claimer in Arcadia, the dark bay was fifth next out here May 27 and missed by just a neck in the Possibly Perfect S. over course and distance June 16. Runner-up in an Aug. 2 optional claimer at Del Mar, Mirth was fifth last time in that seaside oval's CTT and TOC S. Aug. 16.
Pedigree Notes:
Mirth is just the second Grade I winner for her sire Colonel John and is his ninth graded winner and 24th black-type scorer. Her SP dam Di's Delight's 3-year-old daughter Vault (Jump Start) won an allowance at Penn National Sept. 25. The 19-year-old mare is also responsible for a yearling colt by Jump Start and a weanling colt by Alliance. She was bred back to that stallion.
Saturday, Santa Anita
RODEO DRIVE S.-GI, $300,351, Santa Anita, 9-28, 3yo/up, f/m,
1 1/4mT, 1:58.47, fm.
1–MIRTH, 121, f, 4, by Colonel John
1st Dam: Di's Delight (SP, $166,825), by French Deputy
2nd Dam: Orrefor, by Our Native
3rd Dam: Forced to Fly, by Accipiter
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. O-Little Red Feather Racing; B-Barlar, LLC (PA); T-Philip
D'Amato; J-Mike E. Smith. $180,000. Lifetime Record:
16-5-4-2, $315,563. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Beau Recall (Ire), 123, m, 5, by Sir Prancealot (Ire)
1st Dam: Greta d'Argent (Ire), by Great Commotion
2nd Dam: Petite-D-Argent (GB), by Noalto (GB)
3rd Dam: Honey to Spare, by Track Spare (Ire)
(€17,000 Ylg '15 TISEP; $385,000 RNA 5yo '19 KEEJAN). O-Slam
Dunk Racing & Medallion Racing; B-Tom Wallace (IRE); T-Brad
H. Cox. $60,000.
3–Elysea's World (Ire), 121, m, 6, by Champs Elysees (GB)
1st Dam: Ideal World (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Live Your Dreams, by Mt. Livermore
3rd Dam: Night and Dreams, by Fappiano
(€25,000 Ylg '14 AR14; $500,000 5yo '18 KEENOV). O-Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Heider Family Stables LLC, Madaket Stables LLC, Dunn, Christopher T. and McClanahan, Jerry; B-Haras D'Haspel (IRE); T-Richard Baltas. $36,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 5 1/4. Odds: 6.10, 1.30, 2.80.
Also Ran: Siberian Iris (Ire), Excellent Sunset (Ire), Paved.
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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