Daddy Is a Legend Uncorks Huge Rally in Jimmy Durante

Daddy Is a Legend unleashed a come-from-the-clouds kick on the far outside of the Del Mar turf course to make her first try against graded company a successful one with a victory in the $100,000 Jimmy Durante Stakes (G3T) Nov. 25.

The George Weaver-trained filly entered the one-mile Jimmy Durante after she delivered a similar huge run to break her maiden at Keeneland Oct. 27. One start prior, she finished second to eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Rushing Fall in a maiden race at Belmont Park Sept. 16. On Saturday, the daughter of Scat Daddy had her own moment over the Del Mar grass course when she blew past her rivals widest of all in the lane after racing third from last coming off the final turn.

Jockey Joe Bravo knew his mount wouldn't be the quickest thing away from the gate and was happy to let her bide her time well off the pace, as Just a Smidge led the procession through an opening quarter-mile in :23.80 before Fatale Bere rushed up to lead through a half in :48.04. As Fatale Bere began to fade coming off the turn, Bravo tipped Daddy Is a Legend out and enjoyed the ride from there.

"She's going to do better as time goes on," Bravo said after the one-length win. "She's such a big filly, it takes her a couple of strides to get into gear. I was watching everyone when she was back there and ... she got into that big beautiful stride. 

"All I had to do is tip her out. She just really exploded when you needed her to. George put me on the best horse and that was it."

Daddy Is a Legend covered the distance in 1:36.06. Data Dependent finished second and was followed by Raucous and Lexington Grace.

Owned by Jim and Susan Hill, Daddy Is a Legend was sent off at 5-2 odds and paid $7.40, $4.60, and $3.20 across the board for her second win from four starts.

She is out of the Benchmark mare Randie's Legend and was bred in Pennsylvania by HnR Nothhaft Horseracing.

A head behind Lexington Grace came Ever So True in fifth, followed by Casino Red, Multiplayer, Fatale Bere,Sappho, Deep Breath, Thewayiam, and Just a Smidge, to complete the order of finish.