Well-Placed Illuminant Shines in Monrovia

Sharp handling of grade 1 winner Illuminant brought big rewards May 27 at Santa Anita Park for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, and SF Racing.

With Lady Eli, co-owned by Kumin through Sheep Pond Partners, slated for a run in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1T), Illuminant was shifted to the $201,035 Monrovia Stakes (G2T) two races later on the Saturday card.

The 5-year-old daughter of Quality Road   put a disappointing seventh in the April 15 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) behind her, returned to her California base for trainer Michael McCarthy, and took a rail-skimming trip to victory under Flavien Prat almost a year to the day of her 2016 Gamely win. 

"We wanted to defend our title in the Gamely, but this race made more sense," said Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. "Sol owns part of Lady Eli, so this just made more sense. We're very happy with the way she ran."

Illuminant raced seventh early on in a field of eight older fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs over the downhill turf course, as Watch This Cat, Paquita Coqueta, 6-5 choice Enola Gray, and Swift Lady stepped out through a brisk quarter in :21.29. Watch This Cat carried on through a half in :43.04 before fading, while 25-1 shot Coniah put in her bid and briefly took the lead. But Prat was shaking Illuminant up, and the bay mare responded inside with a powerful kick off the turn for home en route to a half-length win.

"That was a dream trip. She broke well and she's just not fast enough to follow that fast pace," Prat said. "Crossing the dirt, I was low and everything opened up down by the rail. It was great."

Final time on firm turf was 1:12.13 

Off at odds of 8-5, Illuminant returned $5.20, $3.40, and $2.80. Coniah was worth $16.60 and $7.60, and Anita Partner brought $5.60 when she rallied to get third, 1 1/4 lengths back. The order of finish was completed by Juno, Enola Gray, Watch This Cat, Paquita Coqueta, and Swift Lady. Spy Ring was scratched.

Illuminant won for the sixth time in 14 starts, and picked up her second graded score. Bred in Pennsylvania by Sycamore Hall Farm out of the Polish Numbers mare Sparkling Number, she was a $900,000 purchase by SF Bloodstock from Bluewater Sales' consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall 2016 mixed sale. As a 2-year-old she graduated from Don R. Graham's consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales 2014 selected sale of 2-year-olds in training when Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners paid $180,000. She was pinhooked by Graham, who paid $32,000 for her from Eaton Sales' offerings at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. 

"She's high-maintenance, to say the least," Wellman said. "All credit goes to Michael and his staff. For her to still be winning graded stakes at age 5 is incredible testament to his horsemanship and his whole team.

"It's a very special day any day she runs. To see her win a stakes here, and now a graded stakes at age 5, is very gratifying."