Edgeway Rebounds With Frontrunning Kalookan Queen Score
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Edgeway kicks clear in the Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita Park
In the battle between two top-tier sprinting fillies, Hronis Racing's Edgeway parlayed her runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) into a decisive wire-to-wire tally over Merneith in the $77,028 Kalookan Queen Stakes Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park.
The John Sadler trainee had been on the improve throughout her 2021 campaign, notching black-type wins in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at Del Mar and the Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn Park before turning in a dogged performance when placing second behind Ce Ce in the Breeders' Cup, defeating champion Gamine and grade 1 winner Bella Sofia in the process.
Merneith on the other hand, running in the colors of HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud, was entering the Kalookan Queen Stakes off a lengthy layoff, having been away from the races since landing the Santa Monica Stakes (G2) last February. Despite her lull in starts, the American Pharoah mare signaled her readiness with three straight bullet works in a row for trainer Bob Baffert on the main track at Santa Anita.
Closing the windows as the 2-5 favorite, Edgeway was actually outbroke out of the gates by a sharp Merneith but it was a matter of strides before she wrestled command down the backstretch. With Merneith on her flank, Edgeway ticked off a :22.15 first quarter before being thwarted by that rival into the run for the far turn, the pair flashing a :44.96 half as they wheeled into the stretch. Clinging to her lead, Edgeway never allowed Merneith to gain the upperhand and at the top of the lane she kicked into another gear, driving clear under steady urging from John Velazquez to best Merneith by 1 3/4 lengths under the wire.
"I watched (Edgeway) run, obviously, she runs really good races," said Velazquez, who was aboard Edgeway for the first time Sunday. "Today, the strategy was to chase them or chase me. I broke (well), let her run to the lead, and let them catch me … When I asked her to run she responded right away, so I'm very proud."
The newly turned 5-year-old stopped the timer in 1:16.85 for the 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track. Stellar Sound was 5 1/2 lengths behind Merneith to complete the trifecta.
"That was really good. She bounced out of the Breeders' Cup really well," said Kosta Hronis of Hronis Racing. "I think the plan was to give her a little bit more of a break, but she’s been asking to run, John (Sadler) had her all trained up and ready to go. It’s an honor to have John (Velazquez). Any time we can have jockeys like this on the West Coast, we're always happy to see that."
Edgeway increased her earnings to $596,360 with her Kalookan Queen victory, improving her overall record to 6-2-1 from 10 starts.
A daughter of Competitve Edge, Edgeway is out the stakes-winning Stormin Fever mare Magical Solution, herself a half sister to grade 1-winning sprinter The Lumber Guy. Edgeway was bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean and Valerie and David Blethen. She sold as a weanling for $35,000 to Erich Brehm at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale before going through the sales ring again at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, fetching a price of $275,000 from Martin Anthony out of the Mayberry Farm consignment.
Bellabel Powers to Blue Norther Triumph
Later on the card, Irish-bred Bellabel aced her North American debut with a stylish victory in the $100,500 Blue Norther Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Bellabel wins the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Making her first start since breaking her maiden at Ireland's Naas Racecourse in September, Bellabel was content to lay a stalking fourth under the red-hot Flavien Prat while Shoppingforpharoah led the six-horse charge through a moderate early pace of :24.71 and :49.27. As the field turned for home, Prat angled Bellabel three wide and the Belardo filly swept into contention, overpowering a game Shoppingforpharoah late for a 2 1/4-length tally.
Shoppingforpharoah was second, finishing a half-length in front of Bellabel's favored stablemate, Helens Well .
"(Bellabel had) shown enough ability where I thought she merited a shot in this race," said trainer Phil D'Amato after the Blue Norther. "Hat's off to Niles Dalton for finding these gems and Michael (Nentwig) and the partners for putting up the money. I think I really had this filly about 80% fit too, so I think there is definitely room to improve here."
Owned by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano, Bellabel ran the mile on a firm turf course in 1:36.86.
Bellabel was bred by Fergus Cousins and was produced from the winning Cape Cross mare Fashion Line. The dam of three winners from three to race has a yearling filly by Holy Roman Emperor . Bellabel was acquired by BBA (Ireland) for €33,000 ($40,107) as a yearling when consigned by Ballybin Stud at the 2020 Tattersalls Ireland Flat Foal and Breeding Stock Sale.
Video: Kalookan Queen S. (BT)
Video: Blue Norther S. (BT)