International Battle in Saturday’s GII Goldikova

Avenue de France bests Going Global by half a length in the John C. Mabee at Del Mar Oct 9 giving the former two wins in their three meetings. Photo by Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire

Goldikova is One of Seven Stakes on Saturday with Three Graded 

ARCADIA, Calif.—Irish-bred Going Global and French-bred Avenue de France will meet for the third consecutive time as they head a field of six fillies and mares three and up in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Goldikova Stakes at one mile over the Santa Anita turf.

One of three graded stakes and seven added money races overall, the Goldikova, named for the brilliant French-bred mare who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile versus males three consecutive years from 2008 through 2010 and who was a two-time Eclipse Award winner in North American, has been carded as race three on a 10-race program Saturday.

Second, beaten a half length by Avenue de France as the 1-2 favorite going a mile and one eighth on turf in Del Mar’s Grade II John C. Mabee Stakes Sept. 10, Going Global, who defeated Avenue de France by three lengths in the Grade II Yellow Ribbon Handicap two starts back, will hope to benefit from the shorter distance of one mile on Saturday in what will be her career finale. 

A 4-year-old filly and one of two Phil D’Amato entrants, Going Global, the defending Goldikova champ, is a perfect two for two at one mile over the Santa Anita turf and is five for six over the Arcadia lawn. 

 Ridden patiently by regular rider Umberto Rispoli in the Mabee at Del Mar, Avenue de France, in a bold move three furlongs from home, got the jump on Going Global, who could never get back on terms with the winner, including in the run-out well past the wire.

Owned by CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, Going Global, who was one for four in her native Ireland, has flourished in D’Amato’s care, winning eight of her 12 starts here, seven of them in graded stakes.  With an overall mark of 16-9-2-1, she has earnings of $1,017,292.

A winner of the Grade I Del Mar Oaks seven starts back, Going Global will be making her final start on Saturday, according to D’Amato.  “Hopefully, we can send her out a winner,” said D’Amato, who said this past Saturday that Going Global will go throu

Trained by Leonard Powell, Avenue de France’s connections will hope to make it two wins from three engagements with Going Global on Saturday.  Off at 10-1 in the John C. Mabee, Juan Hernandez, who has won two of his three engagements with Avenue de France, took his best shot heading into the far turn and it paid off as she notched the biggest win of her career.

A 5-year-old mare who would be best suited lagging back off of a fast pace, Avenue de France made a tremendous run from far back in the one mile turf Osunitas Stakes three starts back on July 23.  With Powell at the developmental controls, Avenue de France appears to be at the peak of her powers as she approaches her 23^rd career start and her 21^st in Powell’s care.

Owned by the Benowitz Family Trust, Convergence Stables, LLC, Madaket Stables, LLC, Wonder Stables and Mathilde Powell, Avenue de France is a five-time stakes winner and is 8-2-5 overall with earnings of $525,066.

First post time for a 10-race card on Saturday is at 1 p.m.

Santa Anita Press Release

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