Amy C Rings in New Year with Las Cienegas Triumph
Image:
Description:
Photo: Benoit Photo
Amy C wins the Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita Park
English-bred Amy C wasted no time starting off the New Year on the right foot when she put in a front-running victory in the Jan. 2 $101,500 Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, the newly minted 5-year-old mare strode home dominantly to earn the first graded stakes win of her career in the 6 1/2 furlong event for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up for trainer Phil D'Amato and owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Robert LaPenta.
The daughter of Charming Thought settled into mid-pack comfortably in :21.61 with Freedom Flyer and Burgoo Alley running 1-2 up front. As the clock hit :43.65 for the half-mile, Rispoli began his charge, pushing the mare four wide into the middle of the lane. She responded eagerly and thundered away from the pack, drawing away to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:12.76 over a turf course rated as good.
In a tight photo,Lady Jae nosed out Freedom Flyer for second.
Amy C ($6.60), who retuned to Santa Anita after a win in the Oct. 29 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes, improved her record to 5-1-0 from 10 starts for earnings of $248,385.
Bred in Great Britain by D. Curran, Amy C is out of the unraced Exceed and Excel mare Alzahra who has three winners from five foals to race. She also has a 2-year-old Goken colt and a yearling Wooded filly.