Medoro is now 4-for-4 with 3 stakes wins for trainer Peter Eurton (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
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Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Medoro improved to 4-for-4 in her young career with another narrow victory in the GIII, Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf Saturday at Santa Anita.
With Antonio Fresu aboard, Medoro (1-5) settled just behind pacesetter Shiloh’s Mistress after the opening quarter mile and it remained that way through fractions of 24.10, 48.77 and 1:13.51 for six furlongs. Medoro cut into Shiloh’s Mistress on the second turn, put a nose in front at the top of the stretch then outdueled that stubborn rival to the wire to prevail in a photo finish.
“I really like this filly, she’s very tough,” Fresu said. “Today wasn’t an easy spot because she was going a little longer and there was not much speed in the race. I was just trying to get her relaxed and get her into a nice position.
“I was just waiting for the turn to home to ask her to go,” Fresu continued. “She did it, but then she kind of wanted to stay with some company. The other horse was coming to me, and she kept fighting to the end. She is just a good filly, and she wants to win.”
Trained by Peter Eurton, Medoro’s winning time 1:48.95 on firm turf. Shiloh’s Mistress, a maiden winner on synthetic at Turfway Park for trainer Michael McCarthy, finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Circle of Trust. Pink Whitney was another 2 ½ lengths back in fourth to complete the superfecta.
This was the third win via photo finish by Medoro, a 3-year-old filly by Honor Code owned by C R K Stable. She won her debut by a head going 5 furlongs on turf at Del Mar Dec. 1 and returned to win the one-mile Blue Norther on turf by a neck Dec. 29 at Santa Anita. Most recently, Medoro made things a little more comfortable when taking the one-mile China Doll on turf by 2 ¼ lengths March 10 at Santa Anita.
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal going a little further because she’s always been a really relaxed sort,” Eurton said. “But in the paddock, she was a little ‘on’ today. That concerned me, and the no pace in the race. I didn’t know how it would play out. It worked out, but it wasn’t easy.”
Medoro paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. Shiloh’s Mistress, trained by Michael McCarthy for John Stewart’s Resolute Racing, returned $3.20 and $2.10. Circle of Trust, ridden by Kazushi Kimura for trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $2.10 to show as the 5-1 second choice.
Unbeaten Medoro has now banked $216,600.
Grade III, $100,000 Providencia Stakes Quotes
Jockey Quotes
Fresu aboard Medoro after their victory (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Antonio Fresu, Medoro, Winner: “I really like this filly she’s very tough. Today wasn’t an easy spot because she was going a little longer and there was not much speed in the race, so I was just trying to get her relaxed and get her into a nice position. She did relax really well in the backside and I was just waiting for the turn to home to ask her to go. She did it and she kind of wanted to stay with some company. The other horse was coming to me and she kept fighting to the end. She is just a good filly and she wants to win.”
Umberto Rispoli, Shiloh’s Mistress, Second: “I was trying to open up early because I know that filly had a nice turn of foot. The only way to win a tactical race like that, I was trying to take that turn of foot away and make it a long streak run. So, I tried to open up make a move around the far turn. Trying to do more than what she can do, and my feeling was that she was looking around. The distance is not an issue. When you get beat by a bob what more can you do.”
Trainer Quotes
Peter Eurton, Medoro, Winner: “I didn’t think it would be a big deal going a little further because she’s always been a really relaxed sort, but in the paddock, she was a little on today. That concerned me, and the no pace in the race I didn’t know how it would play out. It worked out but it wasn’t easy.”
Owner Quotes
Lee Searing, Medoro, Winner: “It’s really interesting because we bought her mom (Achira), and her mom was trained by John Shirreffs. She was a wonderful brood mare. This horse has what she had in her. She wants to run, and she wants to win. She showed it today.
