Rose Maddox winning the Inaugural Moscow Burning under Assael Espinoza. (Vassar Photography)
Matt Dinnerman/Golden Gate Fields
BERKELEY, Calif.—Late last year, Golden Gate Fields implemented the addition of three races on the Winter/Spring meet stakes schedule for California-bred or sired runners. The first of those three races, the $75,000 Moscow Burning Stakes, was run on Saturday at Golden Gate. The race is part of the state-wide Golden State Series stakes schedule and is restricted to California-bred or sired fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward.
The Moscow Burning is named in honor of the terrific California-bred race mare who competed in the early and mid 2000’s for trainer James Cassidy, winning six stakes and hitting the board in multiple Grade I races. She was bred in California by John Harris.
Sent off as the second choice in the wagering at 3-1, 4-year-old filly Rose Maddox sat second to last in the early stages of the inaugural running of the Moscow Burning. Turning for home, Rose Maddox had already advanced a couple of placings and was beginning her stretch-drive move. She split third place finisher Shezarunaway and race favorite Chancery Way at the eighth pole, hit the lead with a sixteenth of a mile to run, and gradually inched away for a length victory. Leading Winter/Spring meet rider Assael Espinoza guided Rose Maddox for trainer Steve Miyadi.
2022 Bear Fan Stakes winner Chancery Way, undefeated heading into the Moscow Burning Stakes, was sent off as the 8-5 post time favorite. Setting moderate fractions of 23.90, 48.57 and 1:13.26, Chancery Way was unable to fend off Rose Maddox late in the game but held second. 45-1 longshot Shezarunaway checked in third followed by Momma Mocca, All Dialed In, Tam’s Little Angel, Belleo’s Forest, and Exactly Wendy.
Rose Maddox paid $8.40 to win, $4.00 to place, and $3.40 to show. Chancery Way returned $3.60 to place and $3.40 to show while Shezarunaway paid $8.00 to show.
Rose Maddox, by Grazen out of the Unusual Heat mare Heat the Rocks, was bred in California by owner Nick Alexander. With the Moscow Burning Stakes win, Rose Maddox improved her lifetime record to 4 wins, 4 seconds, and 1 third place finish from 11 lifetime starts, with career earnings of $226,312.
Live racing resumes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday afternoon with a 9-race card. First post is 12:45 PM.
