Stable Notes by Ed Golden
Avenue De France finishing 1/2 a length ahead of Going Global in the John C. Mabee. Photo by Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire
~ Avenue De France And Going Global Face Off For Fourth Time
~ Eurton Enters Two In Twilight Derby
~ Miller Set To Spring Victory In Autumn Miss
ARCADIA, Calif.—Trainer Leonard Powell is hopeful Avenue De France can continue her success against favored Going Global in Saturday’s Grade II Goldikova Stakes, having upset the Irish-bred filly in the Grade II John C. Mabee at Del Mar Sept. 10 after losing to her in two prior meetings, each a Grade II event, the Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar on Aug. 13 and the Royal Heroine at Santa Anita April 9, the former at 1 1/16 miles, the latter at one mile.
The Goldikova will be decided at a mile on turf.
“The Mabee was at a mile and one-eighth and my mare showed a good turn of foot,” Powell pointed out. “This time, we’re going a mile and I’m concerned that there’s not that much pace in the race, but Avenue de France is doing well and this is the right race to put her in.”
| The Goldikova goes as race three of 10 with a 1 p.m. first post time: |
| 1. Cover Version Ryan Curatolo 20-1 |
| 2. Burgoo Alley Ramon Vazquez 4-1 |
| 3. England’s Rose Victor Espinoza 6-1 |
| 4. Avenue De France Juan Hernandez 5/2 |
| 5. Going Global Umberto Rispoli 4/5 |
| 6. Karakatsie Joe Bravo 12-1 |
The $200,000 Goldikova is one seven stakes races Saturday offering a total of $1,030,000 in purses.
The others are the Grade II, $200,000 Twilight Derby for three-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf; the $100,000, Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes for three-year-old fillies at a mile on turf; and the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Also, the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile for two-year-old California-breds at seven furlongs; the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for Cal-breds at seven furlongs; and the $80,000 Lure Stakes for three-year-olds and up at a mile on turf.
The Goldikova is named for the 2010 European Horse of the Year that won the Breeders’ Cup Mile three straight years, 2008 through 2010, was Eclipse Award winner as female turf champion in 2009 and 2010 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
She won 17 of 27 races earning $7,176,551 and died at the age of 15 on Jan. 5, 2021.
Eurton Enters Two In Twilight Derby
Seven Wonders breaking maiden at Del Mar.
Peter Eurton has two three-year-olds entered in Saturday’s Grade II Twilight Derby that should appreciate the grassy mile and an eighth, as each closed from far back to win at shorter distances over Del Mar’s turf course this summer.
They are Stayincotai, an Irish-bred colt owned by C R K Stable LLC, and Seven Wonders, a son of the late Pioneerof the Nile owned by a partnership.
They both won at a mile and a sixteenth so I think a mile and an eighth should suit them,” the trainer said. Stayincotai has not raced since Aug. 7 when finishing fifth while rank in the Grade III La Jolla Handicap, while Seven Wonders will be making his stakes debut in this, his third start.
“I came back with Stayincotai in a couple weeks (from his prior race on July 23), which wasn’t a good idea as it turned out, so we kind of freshened him up for this,” Eurton said.
“This is one of the last three-year-old races you can catch all year and Seven Wonders did not get the best of trips last time, so we’re hoping he does Saturday.”
| The Twilight Derby race seven: |
| 1. Seven Wonders Hector Berrios 15-1 |
| 2. Go Joe Won Jose Valdivia Jr. 12-1 |
| 3. Perfect Flight Ramon Vazquez 6-1 |
| 4. Handy Dancy Umberto Rispoli 6-1 |
| 5. Cabo Spirit Joe Bravo 4-1 |
| 6. Stayincotai Victor Espinoza 12-1 |
| 7. Degree of Risk Drayden Van Dyke 12-1 |
| 8. Speaking Scout J uan Hernandez 3-1 |
| 9. War At Sea Mike Smith 5/2 |
Miller Set To Spring Victory In Autumn Miss
Miller has two fillies with dissimilar styles in Saturday’s Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes for three-year-old fillies at a mile on turf, Pammy’s Ready and Tezzaray.
Vying for Santa Anita’s training title as is his wont, Miller is optimistic about their chances in the Autumn Miss, which drew a full field of 12.
I feel good; they’re both doing really well,” he said. “They’re in good form and I expect them to run good races. Pammy’s Ready can either go on the lead or track; she’s versatile.
“Tezzaray will probably be sitting mid-pack. She has a new rider in Jose Valdivia Jr, but he’s breezed her the last couple weeks and got to know her.”
| The Autumn Miss race 10 |
| 1. Nadette Umberto Rispoli 6-1 |
| 2. Tezzaray Jose Valdivia Jr. 10-1 |
| 3. Pammy’s Ready Ramon Vazquez 5-1 |
| 4. Gracelund Gray Mario Gutierrez 8-1 |
| 5. Lucky Girl Ryan Curatolo 20-1 |
| 6. Helens Well Tiago Pereira 20-1 |
| 7. Lady Clementine Joe Bravo 20-1 |
| 8. Rhea Moon Juan Hernandez 6-1 |
| 9. Gold Dragon Queen Ricardo Gonzalez 30-1 |
| 10. Cairo Memories Mike Smith 8-5 |
| 11. Gimme Mo Baby Edwin Maldonado 12-1 |
| 12. Kitty Kitana Hector Berrios 12-1 |
