Irish-bred Going Global leads field of seven sophs in Saturday’s GIII Providencia Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. — Fresh off of a pair of dominating turf wins, trainer Phil D’Amato’s Charmaine’s Mia heads a solid field of eight older fillies and mares going one mile on turf in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita.
First post time for a blockbuster 12-race card on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day, Saturday, is at 12 noon.
Previously headquartered at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Charmaine’s Mia, in her first start for D’Amato was a rousing 2 ½ length winner of the Grade III Las Cienegas Stakes going six furlongs on turf Jan. 9 while dismissed at odds of 16-1.
In her first-ever try at two turns, she pressed a fast early pace and went on register an emphatic one length win going one mile on turf in the Grade II Buena Vista Stakes Feb. 20. Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, Charmaine’s Mia was off as the 6-5 favorite and never looked a loser, as she opened up turning for home and won easily while remaining well in front of the gallop out around the Club House turn.
Owned by Agave Racing Stable and Rockin Robin Racing Stables, Charmaine’s Mia is a 5-year-old mare by top sprinter The Factor out of the Bernstein mare Charming Vixen. With Prat riding her back, she figures to be a short price to annex her third consecutive stakes win and improve upon an overall mark of 27-6-4-2.
Trained by Craig Lewis, Ben and Sally Warren’s homebred Warren’s Showtime has been a gem of consistency, compiling an overall mark of 17-6-1-8 while amassing earnings of $593,431. Patiently handled by Juan Hernandez in the Grade II Buena Vista, she found her best stride late while finishing third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Charmaine’s Mia.
A 4-year-old California-bred filly by red-hot sire Clubhouse Ride out of the Grade I winning Affirmative mare Warren’s Veneda, Warren’s Showtime, a winner five starts back of the Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes at one mile on turf Oct. 17, will hope to be on the move late and if someone can soften up the top selection early, she could make the Royal Heroine finish very close indeed.
Scratched out of Saturday’s Grade III Santa Ana Stakes to run in the Royal Heroine, LNJ Foxwoods’ homebred Tapwater comes off a solid neck victory in a one mile turf allowance and will be trying stakes competition of the first time. Trained by Richard Mandella, Tapwater has three wins from eight starts, with all of her wins coming at one mile on turf and in partnership with Flavien Prat. With Prat opting to stay with Charmaine’s Mia, Tapwater will get the services of Mike Smith.
A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Tapit out of the Indian Charlie mare Fiji Moon, Tapwater earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed figure in her Feb. 12 allowance score and appears to be coming to her best for Mandella.
THE GRADE II ROYAL HEROINE STAKES Race 9 of 12 Approximate post time 4:00 p.m. PT
1. Dogtag—Umberto Rispoli–120
2. Tapwater—Mike Smith—122
3. Charmaine’s Mia—Flavien Prat—124
4. Warren’s Showtime—Juan Hernandez—122
5. Raymundo’s Secret—John Velazquez—122
6. Laura’s Light—Abel Cedillo—122
7. Rideforthecause—Mario Gutierrez—122
8. Ippodamia’s Girl—Jose Valdivia, Jr.–120
Going Global (Benoit)
Irish-bred Going Global leads field of seven sophs in Saturday’s GIII Providencia Stakes
Sensational in her two previous stateside starts, Phil D’Amato’s Irish-bred Going Global heads a field of seven sophomore fillies going a mile and one eighth on turf in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita.
Special early first post time on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day this Saturday, is at 12 noon. The Providencia is one of six stakes on a blockbuster 12-race program.
Ridden by leading man Flavien Prat in both local starts, Going Global, at odds of 8-1, surged late in her U.S. debut, the Grade III, six furlong Sweet Life Stakes on Feb. 14. In her first try around two turns, Going Global was off as the even money favorite in the one mile turf China Doll Stakes March 6 and she did not disappoint as she unfurled an explosive stretch rally en route to a three quarter length score.
“We were going a route of ground today and I was very happy with the way she was traveling and the way she relaxed,” said Prat following the China Doll. “She was very impressive.”
A winner of one of four starts in her native Ireland, Going Global bids for her third consecutive win in what will be her seventh career start.
A deep closer, fellow Irish-bred Quattroelle finished well to be third, beaten three lengths by Going Global in the China Doll and would certainly be helped by a fast early pace. Trained by Jeff Mullins and owned by Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, Quattroelle broke her maiden going one mile on turf in her U.S. debut Oct. 20 and came back to run a close third at one mile on turf in the Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 28.
A three quarter length winner of the ungraded Blue Norther at one mile on grass two starts back on Dec. 31, Quattroelle was a close third versus males in a field of 18 in her lone Irish start, a seven furlong turf affair Aug. 13. She seeks her first graded victory in what will be her sixth career start on Saturday.
Carla Gaines’ hard knocking California-bred Sensible Cat has won three out of her last four starts, including a 2 ¾ length score in a one mile allowance versus open company on March 7. Owned by Irvin Racing Stable, Sensible Cat was bred by their C-Punch Ranch.
Neil Drysdale’s Irish-bred Royal Address, although well beaten in her U.S. debut, is an interesting longshot that made a solid move around the far behind Going Global in the Grade III Sweet Life on Feb. 14 and has license to improve stretching out for the first time with a recent race to her credit. Owned by Marsh Naify, Royal Address won three out of her six starts in Europe.
THE GRADE III PROVIDENCIA STAKES Race 5 of 12 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT
1. Sensible Cat—Juan Hernandez—124
2. Quattroelle—Tyler Baze—124
3. Derby Quest—Alexis Centento–120
4. Going Global—Flavien Prat—124
5. Royal Address—Mario Gutierrez—120
6. Closing Remarks—Umberto Rispoli—124
7. Ivy League—Mike Smith–120
Special early first post time for a 12-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Top photo: Charmaine’s Mia (Benoit)
