Medoro literally stretching out to win by a neck over Chatalas as Eurton & Fresu team for one mile turf win. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—A first-out maiden turf winner sprinting, C R K Stable’s Medoro stretched out in style Friday at Santa Anita, as Antonio Fresu rationed her speed and guided the 2-year-old daughter of Honor Code to a hard-charging neck victory in Santa Anita’s $100,000 Blue Norther Stakes. Contested at one mile on turf, Medoro, who is conditioned by Peter Eurton, got the trip in 1:35.80.
Breaking from the number seven post position in a field of nine juvenile fillies, Medoro was a bit keen with Fresu in the run to the first turn, but he was able to get her to settle mid-pack and when he swung four-deep at the quarter pole, she responded with an impressive kick, which enabled her to run down a very well-meant Chatalas and Frankie Dettori inside the sixteenth pole.
Off as the 2-1 favorite, Medoro paid $6.80, $4.40 and $3.20.
A maiden five furlong turf winner at 13-1 on Dec. 1 at Del Mar, Medoro, who is out of the English Channel mare Achira, handled the stretch out with aplomb and galloped out as though she’ll be able to handle added distance.
Chatalas, a winner of Santa Anita’s Grade II Chandelier Stakes with Fresu up three starts back, was trying turf for the first time today and got a perfect stalking trip today under Dettori and despite the fact she battled back gamely to the inside of the winner in deep stretch, she was second-best on the day.
Off at 8-1, she paid $9.40 and $5.40 while finishing two lengths in front of Mo Fox Givin.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Mo Fox Givin, next to last at the quarter pole, followed the winner into the stretch but never factored for the win. The third choice at 7-2, she paid $3.20 to show and finished a half-length in front of Zona Verde.
With today’s winner’s share of $60,000, Medoro hiked her bankroll to $96,600.
$100,000 Blue Norther Stakes Quotes
Jockey Quotes
Antonio Fresu, Medoro, Winner: “I would have liked to stay third or fourth and not wide, unfortunately I was caught wide around the first turn, and I didn’t have any place to go, so I just tried to reduce pace, just to hold her there to save some energy and just give her a breather. At the quarter pole, I asked her because at Del Mar she had an exceptional turn of foot, so I just wanted to see if today at a mile she would have the same. When she switched leads, she just flew home. All the other horses were very professional because they have been in multiple races, and she only had one race going one turn. When she hit the front, I had to ask her for a little bit more just to keep her focused. I really loved the way she galloped out after. Obviously, Peter and Lee (Searing of C R K Stable) do a great job because she is a nice filly, breaking her maiden and not winning a stakes today.”
Trainer Quotes
Peter Eurton, Medoro, Winner: “It looked like she could have been a little keen early, based on what Antonio said, if he would have let her go instead of just try to save some ground. He did the right thing and taught her a little bit and paid dividends later on. Hopefully she will go further.”
Owner Quotes
Lee Searing, Medoro, Winner: “We bought her mare (Achira), John Sherriffs happened to train her, and we bought her at a breeding sale, she has produced four horses this one being the second. Antonio Fresu said he couldn’t rate her right, there’s so much more because she wants to pull and wants to go early. He did a really good job keeping her out of trouble and keeping her back. She wants to win, when you have horses that want to win it is a lot of fun.
“Peter Eurton had a great last year for us, we won quite a few races and he’s got some really nice horses, we love the Eurtons.
