Donna Veloce Makes Easy Work of Santa Ysabel
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Donna Veloce wins the Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita Park
High expectations were placed on Donna Veloce in her 3-year-old debut March 8. She was bet down to the heavy 1-5 favorite in a field of six for the $100,500 Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park, but the filly is used to taking on big tasks.
Purchased by Kaleem Shah for $800,000 as a 2-year-old, the Uncle Mo filly aired on debut by 9 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita in late September. In her second start, she ran second, a neck behind British Idiom, in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Trainer Simon Callaghan then sent Donna Veloce to Los Alamitos Race Course to close her 2-year-old campaign. There she lost to Bast by a half-length in the Starlet Stakes (G1).
On Sunday, Donna Veloce scored that breakthrough win as she loped to victory in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Ysabel. She earned 50 qualifying points toward the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), and Callaghan said he is "pretty sure" she will return for one final prep in the April 4 Santa Anita Oaks (G2).
"After the Starlet, we gave her some time off. She really had done a lot in a short time and nearly pulled off the Breeders' Cup," Callaghan said. "It was nice to give her a break and bring her back and start here with her 3-year-old campaign."
Shah, who campaigns Donna Veloce in partnership with Coolmore's Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, said the bay filly reminds him of his multiple grade 1 winner Bellafina in terms of talent.
"Obviously, Donna Veloce started a little late in her career, but hopefully she'll come around at the right time and perform bigger and bigger things down the road," Shah continued. "I'm thrilled for the partnership. I'm glad that Coolmore and us got off to win in a graded stakes out here today, and I hope the partnership has many bigger races to come."
After bobbling while breaking from the rail, Donna Veloce was settled in fourth on the inside by regular jockey Flavien Prat. Gidgetta led the way through early fractions of :22.79 and :46.80, followed by Speech and Tiz Fake News. Paige Anne and Storie Blue brought up the rear.
Speech took over to run six furlongs in 1:12.11, but Prat's three-wide move with Donna Veloce made Speech's lead a short one. Once in the homestretch, Donna Veloce left her competition behind and was ridden out to a 4 1/4-length victory. She hit the wire in 1:45.43 on a fast track.
"She was ready, but she stumbled there at the break and that got us in behind those horses, so she was a little bit keen," Prat said. "When we turned down the backside, she dropped the bit and relaxed very well. It's always great when they are able to adjust, and I hope she can improve off of this race. She was full of run at the end, and she handled everything well."
"I thought it was a perfect race," Callaghan said. "We didn't plan to take back like that. I thought she'd be the fastest filly, but Flavien went to Plan B and let them go when she didn't break good. She got a good schooling and came 'round them, and I think that's going to serve her to good effect in the future."
After watching "Plan B" unfold, Shah said: "My heart skipped a beat, for sure, but it is what it is and I'm glad she came running at the end."
Connections were happy to see their filly rate well with the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks the goal.
"It's definitely a nice thing to have up your sleeve because, particularly in the Oaks going that distance, a rough race, big field, it's nice to know that you can take back and she rates well," Callaghan added.
Speech stayed on for second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Storie Blue in third. Paige Anne, Gidgetta, and Tiz Fake News completed the order of finish.
With the Santa Ysabel win added to her four-race résumé, Donna Veloce has raked in $490,000. She ranks second on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 62 points.
Donna Veloce is the second foal out of the Montjeu mare Coin Broker and was bred in Kentucky by the Coin Broker Syndicate. At the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, she was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency and purchased by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds for $450,000. Hartley/DeRenzo then consigned her last year to The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select 2-year-old sale in South Florida, where agent Ben McElroy secured her for Shah.
Coin Broker is a daughter of Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Cash Run, who is out of grade 1 winner Shared Interest and is a half sister to grade 1-winning sprinter and sire Forestry. Her first foal is National Guard, a winning colt by War Front . She also has an unraced 2-year-old filly by War Front named Peace Broker and a yearling filly by the Claiborne Farm stallion. Coin Broker was reported bred to Justify for the 2020 foaling season.