ARCADIA, Calif.—Trainer Phil D’Amato’s Irish-bred Going Global followed up on her impressive U.S. debut last month with an explosive stretch rally to take Saturday’s $100,000 China Doll Stakes, the first of five stakes on a blockbuster 11-race Santa Anita Handicap Day card. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Going Global prevailed by three quarters of a length while getting one mile on turf in 1:34.32.
Stretching out off of a solid half length win going six furlongs on turf in the Grade III Sweet Life Stakes Feb. 14 and in her first try around two turns, Going Global settled nicely while fourth, about six lengths off of dueling leaders Sweetest Angel and Bleu Ballon around the first turn. Fourth by a similar margin heading to the three furlong pole, Prat saved ground while just to the outside of eventual runner-up Closing Remarks mid-way around the turn.
At the quarter pole, Prat angled four-deep and with an eye-catching turn of foot, Going Global inhaled Sweetest Angel and held off a nice late run from Closing Remarks.
“The way she ran last time gave me a lot of confidence coming into this race today,” said Prat, who is scheduled to ride the entire 11-race card today. “We were going a route of ground today and I was very happy with the way she was traveling and the way she relaxed. She was very impressive.
One for four in her native Ireland, Going Global was off as the even money favorite in a field of six sophomore fillies and paid $4.00, $2.80 and $2.20.
“When I saw them ding-donging up front, I liked where we were sitting,” said D’Amato. “It was a question of when we pulled the trigger, what did we have? I couldn’t be more delighted. That’s what I wanted to see, is her taking the next step in being able to relax and go around two turns. She answered the questions today.”
Owned by CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gervitz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, Going Global picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $128,792 from an overall mark of 6-3-0-0.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Closing Remarks gave an excellent account of herself, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Quattroelle. Off at 10-1, Closing Remarks, the lone California-bred in the lineup, paid $6.40 and $3.20.
Quattroelle, a dependable late closer who was late on the scene today, was off at 9-5 under Tyler Baze and paid $2.40 to show.
Fractions on the race were 22.97, 46.51, 1:10.50 and 1:22.62.
Santa Anita Press Release
Photo: Going Global, (Benoit)
