Carressa Wins Megahertz in Turf Debut
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Carressa wins the Megahertz Stakes at Santa Anita Park
In both her turf and stakes debut, Carressa pulled early but was contained by jockey Victor Espinoza before taking command in the stretch to win the $101,000 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) Jan. 20 at Santa Anita Park.
The 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly trained by John Shirreffs entered Monday's one-mile grass feature off an 8 1/4-length romp at the same distance in a Nov. 22 allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar.
"I'm really thrilled with her, the way she's progressed and the way she ran today," Shirreffs said. "I thought the most important thing was when Victor was able to control her there going into the first turn. After that, she settled and really ran well."
Carressa broke from the rail and raced fourth early, tugging to the outside, as Keeper Ofthe Stars and Brill dueled for the lead. Keeper Ofthe Stars led through the first quarter-mile of :23.61 before Brill pulled ahead by 1 1/2 lengths to run a half in :46.83. Carressa was three deep nearing the second turn and made a bid outside the leader, cutting Brill's margin to a head as three-quarters went in 1:11.35.
Carressa found room to run in the stretch and charged home in front. Super Patriot and La Sardane made strong rallies from the back of the field, but Carressa held late to win by three-quarters of a length. She completed the mile in 1:34.64 on firm turf and paid $10.20 to win.
"We didn't know if she'd handle the turf, so I had two plans," Espinoza said. "If she broke sharp, I'd go to the lead, but she kind of missed the break, so we sat behind. I wanted to keep her covered up going into the first turn because she was pulling pretty hard. When we turned up the backstretch, I moved her out and dropped my hands and she relaxed. At that point I knew she was handling the turf and I really wasn't worried about anyone else."
Super Patriot took second a neck over La Sardane. Streak of Luck, Take These Chains, Keeper Ofthe Stars, and Brill completed the order of finish.
Carressa is campaigned by Mercedes Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy and David Ingordo, and Steve Mooney. She was purchased by West Point Thoroughbreds and Vosburgh for $125,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
From three wins and a second in six starts, Carressa has earned $139,302.
"Now she can run on the dirt or the turf so they have many races to run," Espinoza said. "She's been impressive and she is on her game. When a horse is getting good and starts winning it's hard to get beat. They don't come very often like Carressa that can run on both surfaces."
Michael Stinson bred the bay filly in Kentucky out of the multiple stakes winner Iplaytricks, by Desert God. Carressa is the first foal out of Iplaytricks, who also has a 3-year-old American Pharoah filly and a 2-year-old California Chrome colt.