Farrell Takes Golden Rod Gate-to-Wire
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Photo: Coady Photography
Farrell and jockey Channing Hill win the Golden Rod
Coffee Pot Stables' homebred Farrell took a field of 12 fillies gate-to-wire to win the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs by six lengths.
In the 1 1/16-mile test for 2-year-old fillies, the daughter of Malibu Moon went for the early lead, set fractions of :23.89, :48.33, and 1:13.80 through six furlongs, with Lovely Bernadette and Gris Gris close, and favorite Daddys Lil Darling racing way off the pace in ninth. Leading by two lengths on the turn for home, Farrell dug deep and pulled away by 3 1/2 lengths in the stretch under jockey Channing Hill. She hit the wire in 1:44.26.
Pocahontas Stakes (gr. II) winner Daddys Lil Darling made her move into the far turn but couldn't make up enough ground. She held on by a neck for second over Ever So Clever. Gris Gris finished fourth.
“It’s an easy ride when you’re on much the best and have everything your way,” Hill said. “The biggest thing was that she settled into the turn and on the backside and from there, it was going to be tough to catch her. She’s got a lot of quality to her. She’s going to be tough wherever she goes this winter.”
Trainer Wayne Catalano said the filly will most likely run at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots next.
“The Rags to Riches was the stepping stone to here and she ran well, but we really, really loved her going into today’s race,” Catalano said. “She trained great, got the race over the track. Everything was beautiful. She’ll probably go to Fair Grounds for the winter.”
The Golden Rod was Farrell's second win from four starts, all at Churchill Downs. The filly entered off a third-place effort in the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs Oct. 30, when she finished behind fellow Golden Run runners Lovely Bernadette and China Grove. She broke her maiden her second time out by five lengths in a 6 1/2-furlong race Oct. 1.
Bred in Kentucky, the filly is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Rebridled Dreams.
Farrell paid $23, $8, and $6.20 across the board. Daddys Lil Darling returned $3.80 and $2.80. Ever So Clever paid $3.60.