Sacred Wish Pulls Out Late Victory in the Matriarch

Sacred Wish  ended trainer Chad Brown's stranglehold on the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) by defeating favored Gina Romantica  at Del Mar Dec. 1. Runners from the powerful Brown barn had four consecutive victories in the one-mile turf race for distaffers, but trainer George Weaver sprung a mild upset with Sacred Wish, getting the first graded win of her career.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who hadn't ridden Sacred Wish in a race in more than a year, came to California to pilot her for Weaver. The filly, going off as the 12-1 fifth choice, drew the rail, which allowed Velazquez to save ground in third early as part of a dream trip.

Ag Bullet , the 3-1 second choice behind the Brown-trained favorite Gina Romantica, was coming off a third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T). She set the early pace while getting the first quarter-mile in :23.32. Second-place Aussie Girl  tightened it up to a head margin after a half-mile in :47.57, while Velazquez was content to bide his time in third.

"I was hoping that she would break well," said Velazquez, who added he felt the field only had a couple of speed horses. "If I can beat the 3 or the 4, then I am in a great position."

That great position paid off as the leaders headed into the stretch. Velazquez was able to angle Sacred Wish outside of Ag Bullet, giving his filly a clear shot. She took it eagerly, passing Ag Bullet and then holding off a late rally by Gina Romantica on her outside and defeating the favorite by a neck in 1:34.76. Ag Bullet saved the show spot, three-quarters of a length behind Gina Romantica and a similar margin ahead of fourth-place Tax Implications , one of four trained by Brown.

"She pulled out and she had a nice kick to fight down the lane," Velazquez said.

Blair Golen, an assistant to Weaver, was pleased with the way Ag Bullet's early pace set the race up for Sacred Wish.

"She wasn't going too fast, was comfortable behind horses, and was able to go up the rail and get it done this time," Golen said. "Johnny already had it in his head that instead of waiting for her, he was going to ask her to go, and where she put herself is where she was going to be. He's ridden her so well in the past. He gets along with her good, and I'm just so happy he was able to come out and ride her." 

Until the Matriarch, Sacred Wish had spent her entire career east of the Mississippi, winning the 2023 Winter Memories Stakes at Aqueduct. A graded victory had eluded her, though she had come close several times, running second in five graded stakes, including the 2023 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Two starts after the CCA Oaks, Sacred Wish switched to turf, and in nine races on that surface she had two wins, three seconds, two thirds, and two fourths.

Weaver, who missed winning the 2019 Matriarch by just three-quarters of a length with Daddy Is a Legend , trains Sacred Wish for Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christoper Dunn, and Anthony Spinazzola. Spinazzola bought the 4-year-old filly from consignor Cary Frommer for $50,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-old sale.

John R. Penn bred Sacred Wish in Kentucky from the Indian Charlie mare Indian Wish , who did not win but placed four times in 17 starts. Indian Wish is a half sister to graded winner Mint Lane  and to grade 1-placed Sister Girl Blues . Another half sister, unraced So Sharp , produced millionaire and sire Sharp Azteca .

Not This Time   sired both graded winners on the Dec. 1 Del Mar card: Sacred Wish as well as Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) winner Clock Tower . The stallion's other 2024 graded winners include Cogburn  , Next , Arzak , Shareholder , Abientot , Time to Dazzle , and No More Time . A son of Giant's Causeway, Not This Time is slated to stand the 2025 season for an advertised fee of $175,000 at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky.

Video: Matriarch S. (G1T)