Charmaine's Mia Wins Third Straight in Royal Heroine
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Charmaine's Mia fends off Dogtag to win the Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Charmaine's Mia rolled to her third consecutive victory on the Santa Anita Park turf April 3, holding off a late-running Dogtag to take the $201,500 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) by a half-length.
The Royal Heroine follows victories in the Feb. 20 Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) and Jan. 9 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T).
Piloted by Flavien Prat from post 3, Charmaine's Mia was quick out of the gate and enjoyed a length lead as she set the pace with quarter-mile fractions of :22.59, :46.02, and 1:09.86. The 5-year-old daughter of The Factor opened up two lengths in the home stretch, but that margin was diminished as Dogtag kicked into gear down the lane and rallied from sixth.
Charmaine's Mia dug in to hold off her rival for the narrow victory. She completed the mile on firm turf in 1:33.76 and paid $3.20 as the 3-5 favorite.
"For some reason, she's really good out there. She always leaves really fast and she relaxed down the backside and responded when it was time to go," Prat said. "I was hoping she would break like she did and take advantage of it, otherwise, I would probably sit and get her to relax. She's really brave and she was training really hard.
"It's great to have family here and fans."
Phil D'Amato trains the winner for Agave Racing Stable and Rockin Robin Racing Stables.
"Flavien got her out beautifully and he rated her perfectly," D'Amato said. "Once he shot out of there like a rocket, he made her relax and he had enough to hold off Dogtag."
Dogtag was second 1 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Warren's Showtime , who was another 1 1/2 lengths in front of fourth-placed Tapwater . Laura's Light , Raymundos Secret , Rideforthecause , and Ippodamia's Girl completed the order of finish.
Charmaine's Mia was bred in Kentucky by Gunpowder Farms our of the stakes-winning Bernstein mare Charming Vixen , whose most recent foal is the 3-year-old Charming Boom, an unraced Hit It a Bomb filly foaled in Korea.
A $4,000 purchase by Cool Hill Farm from the Allied Bloodstock consignment to the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Charmaine's Mia raced for owner/trainer Michael McDonald from ages 2-4 primarily at Woodbine and Gulfstream Park. She is undefeated in three starts since moved to D'Amato's barn in Southern California. From 28 total career starts, she holds a 7-4-2 record and has earned $472,976.