Fahan Mura Gets Class Break in Robert J. Frankel

Bran Jam Stables and David Clark's Fahan Mura will get a class break when she takes on seven other fillies and mares Dec. 29 in the $150,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.

The 4-year-old daughter of English Channel  most recently finished off the board in the Dec. 2 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) when she faced the likes of the winner Uni, Daddy is a Legend, and Quidura.

After four straight wins at Santa Anita in claiming and optional-claiming allowance races at the beginning of the year, Fahan Mura made the jump to graded stakes but finished sixth in the New York Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2T) when she was shipped to Belmont Park. Back at Del Mar, the speedy filly took the Osunitas Stakes and then placed third in the John C. Mabee (G2T).

She then scored in the one-mile Swingtime Stakes Oct. 7 at Santa Anita and was 1 1/2 lengths in arrears in the Goldikova Stakes (G2T) to get second one start prior to her Matriarch effort.

Facing off against Fahan Mura in the 1 1/8-mile turf contest Saturday is Manitoba-bred Escape Clause for owner/trainer Don Schnell.

The Going Commando filly finished third in the 1 3/8-mile Red Carpet Stakes (G3T)—her first graded stakes attempt. Prior to that effort Escape Clause won eight straight races in Maintoba, Alberta, and Minnesota before she shipped to Southern California, where she won her ninth via disqualification in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. Escape Clause has accumulated 18 wins from 26 starts.

BALAN: Manitoba-Bred Escape Clause Springs Upset at Del Mar

Excellent Sunset, who won the Kathryn Crosby, but was disqualified to second, and third-place finisher Sweet Charity will also have a spot in the gate for the Robert J. Frankel. Excellent Sunset subsequently finished eighth in the Matriarch and has two wins from five starts since coming to the U.S. from the U.K.

Sweet Charity raced in her native France before her first race in the U.S. at the beginning of 2017 and her best finish came in the March 12 Santa Ana Stakes (G2T), where she finished third in the 1 1/8-mile race.

Entries: Robert J. Frankel S. (G3T)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, December 29, 2018, Race 4

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/8m
• Turf
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 1:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Lucy De (CA)	Flavien Prat	120	Richard Baltas	8/1
2	2Escape Clause (MB)	Ruben Fuentes	122	Don Schnell	7/2
3	3Quebec (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Richard Baltas	8/1
4	4Fahan Mura (PA)	Edwin A. Maldonado	122	Vladimir Cerin	5/2
5	5Sweet Charity (FR)	Tyler Baze	120	John W. Sadler	5/1
6	6Gliding By (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	120	Richard Baltas	12/1
7	7Amboseli (KY)	Kent J. Desormeaux	120	James M. Cassidy	8/1
8	8Excellent Sunset (IRE)	Rafael Bejarano	120	Anna Meah	7/2