Giza Goddess Wins Blue Norther in Stakes Debut
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Giza Goddess wins the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita
Giza Goddess parlayed an impressive maiden win into her first stakes score in the $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes Dec. 30 at Santa Anita Park and gave her trainer his first stakes win of the year in the final days of 2018.
Entering the one-mile turf test for 2-year-old fillies off a 5 1/4-length maiden special weight win Dec. 1 at Del Mar, the John Shirreffs-trained daughter of Cairo Prince raced third off early leader Courteous, went on the attack in the second turn, opened up a clear lead in the stretch, and held off a late run from Colonial Creed to win by a half-length under jockey Brice Blanc.
An inquiry into an incident that occurred nearing the second bend, when Colonial Creed got caught between Giza Goddess and Courteous and lost momentum, delayed the official result, but the Santa Anita stewards ultimately decided to make no change to the order of finish.
"I was a little worried because she was leaning on horses today," Blanc said of the filly owned by Mercedes Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, David Ingordo, and Steve Mooney. "She's still a little green, but she's got a ton of potential. I've had the chance to ride her on the grass in all three of her most recent starts, and she keeps improving every time."
Shirreffs moved Giza Goddess to the turf after she failed to place in three attempts on the main track, and she was beaten just a length in a third-place finish on the Del Mar grass Nov. 10.
"I think switching to the turf is what has moved her up," Shirreffs said. "It's made all the difference with this filly. It was nice to be able to run back again at a mile, but beating maidens is one thing and beating winners is another."
In Sunday's race, Giza Goddess stalked fractions of :23.08 and :46.54 through a half-mile, put her head in front through six furlongs in 1:10.34, and finished off the mile in 1:34.64.
"After a maiden win, you always wonder how they're going to do against winners. This was a big step up for her, and in her last race she had the outside post, so she had to hustle to get the lead. I was wondering if she'd settle well today, and she did."
Thriving closed from sixth to complete the trifecta and was followed by Lady Prancealot, Courteous, Splashy Kisses, Cedars of Lebanon, and Data Storm Kitty to complete the order of finish.
Bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm, out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Comfort and Joy, Giza Goddess now has $92,980 in earnings. She was a $200,000 purchase by West Point and Vosburgh out of the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.