Seventh Heaven: Didia's Late Surge Captures Modesty
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Didia wins the Modesty Stakes at Churchill Downs
Those who subscribe to the notion of seven being a lucky number should have seen this one coming.
Didia , who had won her past six starts, with the most recent three races in the United States, rallied down the stretch to claim her seventh consecutive victory May 5 at Churchill Downs, taking the $300,000 Modesty Stakes (G3T) on the Matt Winn Turf Course in a stakes-record 1:47.46.
The one and one-eighth-mile race featured seven older fillies and mares on firm turf.
"This year, she has progressed in every race," said jockey Vincent Cheminaud. "We had a good trip today and when I asked her for run today, she responded. It's a nice (mare) and I hope she will progress and win a grade 1 this year."
Sweet Dani Girl set the pace early, getting a good jump out of the gate. Didia settled into third and kept herself within range of the lead.
With Javier Castellano in the irons, Sweet Dani Girl kept her rivals at bay going into the backstretch. Lady Rockstar and Tyler Gaffalione tried applying pressure, but it only led to the leader stretching her lead to two lengths. Sweet Dani Girl posted fractional times of :23.25, :47.84, and 1:11.58 before she was engaged by Didia in the stretch.
Cheminaud angled Didia wide out of the final turn, putting her in position to challenge. With Sweet Dani Girl on the inside and a charging New Year's Eve on the outside, Cheminaud asked for more and he received it as Didia surged past Sweet Dani Girl by a length and a half, seemingly growing stronger by the stride.
"I won't say I was worried, but they were bunched tightly at the start," said trainer Ignacio Correas IV. "I felt more confident once I saw her settle into third. From there, it was just a matter of whether or not she would have her kick. I don't know how she does it, but she always makes it look easy."
It was Didia's second win in as many starts at the 1 1/8-mile distance, previously winning Oct. 2021 in her native Argentina. Correas said he's been able to work with Didia to teach her to relax.
"She was always running wire-to-wire in Argentina so our first accomplishment was to teach her to come from a little bit off of the pace," Correas said. "Here the competition is different, it's tougher. You don't fight speed with speed."
Didia improves to 8-1-0 from 11 starts with $472,109 in career earnings. Didia paid $7.18 for the win. She was followed by Sweet Dani Girl and New Year's Eve.
By Orpen out of Delambre, by Rainbow Corner, the 5-year-old was bred by La Manija and is owned by Merriebelle Stable.