La Pelosa Ships in to Take Natalma Stakes
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Photo: Michael Burns
La Pelosa wins the Natalma Stakes at Woodbine
Second against group 3 competition twice this season in England, a trip over the Atlantic brought a grade 1 win to Godolphin's La Pelosa Sept. 16 in the $250,000 Natalma Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine.
The stretch run of the one-mile turf test featured three different leaders, but the 2-year-old Dandy Man filly was the one who lasted to the wire under jockey Jaime Spencer, as favored My Gal Betty wandered out to the center of the course late and couldn't get by.
Longshot pacesetter Eyeinthesky who led into the stretch, was soon passed by Stillwater Cove and La Pelosa finished off the mile in 1:33.70 on firm turf for trainer Charlie Appleby. Bold Script completed the trifecta at odds of 33-1.
"She did everything right," Spencer said. "She did what her U.K. form suggested it would do, and the race worked out perfectly. I just got her into her rhythm where she's happy and let her take it from there. The pace was strong, so I was a little bit farther back than I initially planned, but that's the way it panned out, and she was very brave in the straight when I asked her for a full effort."
Eyeinthesky set fractions of :22.98, :45.36, and 1:09.08 with a clear lead, but didn't last long in the stretch. Stillwater Cover led by a length with a furlong to run, but La Pelosa, who raced in 10th early, was full of run and kicked away late to win by a length.
After Bold Script came Pivottina, Stillwater Cove, Comic Kitten, Souciologist, Eyeinthesky, Not Orbinary, Chasing the Kitty, Above All Names, Chicas Amigas, and Artilena to complete the order of finish.
The Irish-bred filly finished second last time out in the German-Thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes (G3) at Newmarket Aug. 11, and before that just missed by a neck in the June 22 Albany Stakes (G3) at Ascot. In between she finished fifth in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (G2) and third in the British Stallion Studs E.B.F. Star Stakes.
"She's a lovely filly," said Appleby's assistant, Alex Merriam. "I think she's turned a few heads this week. She shipped well, she traveled well, and she's done everything right, which is a big ask for a 2-year-old filly, so we're really pleased with her."
La Pelosa was bred by Elton Lodge Stud, out of the Bushranger mare Lauren's Girl. She was a $420,126 purchase by Godolphin out of the 2018 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.