Madone Outkicks Going Global in San Clemente
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Madone rallies to win the San Clemente Stakes at Del Mar
Going Global was in a league of her own within the 3-year-old filly turf ranks at Santa Anita Park this winter and spring. But a change in venue to Del Mar brought a shift in the division's pecking order July 24.
Racing Saturday in the $202,500 San Clemente Stakes (G2T) at the seaside track, Kaleem Shah's Madone edged favorite Going Global, reversing her form from the May 22 Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita, where victorious Going Global defeated her by 10 3/4 lengths.
Although the margin of finish was just a half-length, the winner appeared clearly best Saturday. While Going Global enjoyed a ground-saving trip around both turns, Madone took the long way around, sweeping four wide on the second turn to outkick the 2-5 chalk.
Going Global, in traffic for much of the race but who found daylight inside in the stretch, had every opportunity to win, but the turn of foot she exhibited in four earlier stakes wins this year was not as powerful as in the past.
Instead, Madone ($13.60) produced the best closing punch, rallying from ninth in the field of 10 under jockey Juan Hernandez. The Simon Callaghan trainee completed a mile on firm turf in 1:35.28, which followed fast fractions of :22.26, :45.86, 1:11.12 set by Nimbostratus under pressure from Equilove . The leaders retreated to ninth and 10th, respectively.
"That was the plan, to lay back then come running," Hernandez said. "Simon said to keep her covered up and save ground. That's what I did. On the turn (for home), I took her out and she gave it to me. She really came running. Nice win for sure."
Tetragonal closed from fifth to be third, a length behind the runner-up. She outlasted Karakatsie in fourth.
The former survived a stewards' inquiry and rider's claim of foul to hold the show. Stewards ruled that while Tetragonal under Joe Bravo did drift out somewhat into the path of the Kent Desormeaux-ridden Karakatsie, the action did not warrant disqualification.
Madone continued her love affair with the Del Mar turf course. Last year as a 2-year-old, the daughter of Vancouver won both of her local starts over the grass, a maiden race and the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes.
She later added victories in the Surfer Girl Stakes and Senorita Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita. Her only two losses in seven starts came when eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) last fall at Keeneland and sixth when racing on three weeks rest in the Honeymoon. She has earnings of $331,800.
Saturday's win was the second in the San Clemente for trainer Simon Callaghan, who took the race with Up In Time a decade earlier.
"I blame myself (for the Honeymoon loss); I ran her back too quickly," Callaghan said. "She bounced. It's as simple as that."
She and other San Clemente starters could return in the Aug. 21 Del Mar Oaks (G1T).
Congratulations Mr. Kaleem Shah as Madone takes the G2 San Clemente @DelMarRacing! Thank you for taking time to speak with @BritneyEurton following the big win, catch all the reaction here! pic.twitter.com/QFdnFNif7O
— TVG (@TVG) July 25, 2021
Madone sold three times at auction as a younger filly, most recently at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, where agent Ben McElroy purchased her on behalf of Shah for $125,000 from the Kirkwood Stables consignment.
Bred in Kentucky by Glendalough, Madone is one of five winners from eight foals out of the Cherokee Run mare Indian Love Call . Of the mare's two unraced foals, one is a 2-year-old filly by Astern and the other a Cairo Prince yearling colt. Indian Love Call was reported bred to Caravaggio for 2022.