Moonlight d’Oro rallies to win the Las Virgenes G3 Stakes Photo Credit- Benoit Photo
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 6, 2021)–Although even money favorite Kalypso gunned to an uncontested early lead, Richard Mandella’s Moonlight d’Oro rallied powerfully off the turn for home to win Saturday’s Grade III, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes by 1 ½ lengths. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Moonlight d’Oro got a flat mile in 1:38.01.
With an avalanche of late money coming her way, Kalyspo darted to the Las Virgenes lead under Joel Rosario and maintained a one length advantage over Honor America and Moraz as the field headed up the backside five furlongs out.
Last but only 2 ½ lengths off the leader while on the move mid-way around the far turn, Moonlight d’Oro wheeled three-wide turning for home and met little resistance from the favorite as she won going away under a hand ride.
An impressive three length maiden winner at the same distance on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos, Moonlight d’Oro was the second choice at 6-5 in field of five sophomore fillies and paid $4.60, $2.20 and $2.10.
Owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, LLC, Moonlight d’Oro, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, out of the Bernardini mare Venetian Sonata, now has two wins from four starts and with the winner’s share of $120,000, increased her earnings to $163,040.
An important prep to the Grade II Santa Anita Oaks on April 3, the Las Virgenes winner will receive 10 Kentucky Oaks (April 30) qualifying points, with four, two and one given to those finishing underneath.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Kalypso finished 1 ¾ lengths in front of Moraz and paid $2.40 and $2.10.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli and trained by Michael McCarthy, Moraz was off at 4-1 and paid $2.10 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.25, 47.47, 1:12.72 and 1:25.17.
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