Going Global Takes Honeymoon to Remain Unbeaten in U.S.
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Going Global wins the Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita Park
When it comes to accolades for his 3-year-old filly Going Global , trainer Phil D'Amato is anything but reserved.
"I've (trained) a lot of good fillies and mares, but this early on in their career," he said, "I'd say she's definitely the best."
Considering that D'Amato has a little more than $40 million in career earnings and a score of graded stakes wins to his credit, those words carry quite a bit of weight, all of which seemed quite justified May 22 after Going Global's impressive performance in the $101,000 Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita Park.
Improving her record to a perfect 4-for-4 since February, when she began her racing career in the United States for D'Amato, the Irish-bred daughter of Mehmas cruised to an easy 4 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes under Flavien Prat.
"I think she's blossoming right now," said D'Amato, whose filly has reeled off that quartet of American wins purely in stakes company. "Each performance was better than the next and this one was many lengths better than the last one. It's exciting to have a filly like this going into Del Mar and hopefully sky's the limit."
After notching a neck victory in the April 3 Providencia Stakes (G3T) in her last start, the Honeymoon was certainly a big step forward for the filly owned by CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano. It was so encouraging that the connections have the Aug. 21 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) circled on their calendars as the main target for their sophomore filly.
"The Del Mar Oaks is our finish line," Nentwig said. "That's the race we're pointing to."
The Honeymoon was the fifth win in a row for Going Global, who was victorious in a Nov. 11 handicap race at Dundalk in Ireland before moving to the United States.
A winner of five of eight starts with earnings of $248,792, Going Global is a daughter of the Invasor mare Wrood , who has produced two foals that have raced, both winners. Her most recent foal is a yearling filly by U S Navy Flag .
Two years ago, Going Global was bought for US$16,987 by Pioneer Racing from The Castlebridge Consignment at the 2019 Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale. She raced for owners Pioneer Racing and Christopher Donnelly when competing overseas.
As fine a trip as Prat enjoyed May 15 aboard Rombauer in the Preakness Stakes (G1), his ride on Going Global was even dreamier. Rating in fifth along the inside, Prat had a ton of horse turning for home when a big seam fortuitously opened at the top of the stretch and he was able to motor the 4-5 favorite ($3.60) past the pacesetting Pizzazz and pull away to a decisive victory in 1:46.37 on firm turf. She also carried high weight of 124 lbs, spotting the opposition two to four lbs.
LNJ Foxwoods' Golden , a Tapit filly, rallied from last in the field of seven to take second by a half-length over Breeze Easy's Midnight Diva , a daughter of Midnight Lute .
"I've got four partners who have been friends of mine for a while and I'm happy they're involved in winning as a team with us," Nentwig said. "Phil has done a super job with her. A few weeks after she arrived here, he told us she was going to be a good filly. You hear that from trainers sometimes and you take it with a grain of salt but I give Phil all the credit."
Yes, there was certainly plenty of praise to pass around Saturday, including some it that was off the charts.