Phipps Stable’s homebred BOCA GRANDE (A.P. Indy) has quite a lofty family
reputation to uphold, but the royally bred juvenile signaled that she’s up to
the task with a 3 3/4-length romp in her stakes debut in Saturday’s $200,000
Demoiselle S. (G2). Jockey Mike Smith settled Boca Grande into a comfortable
tracking position while carving out a ground-saving trip throughout the 1
1/8-mile test. At the top of the stretch, the Shug McGaughey pupil slipped
through on the rail and burst clear of the field to post a final time of 1:50 on
the fast track. As the nearly 5-1 second choice in the nine-filly field, Boca
Grande returned $11.80, $6.70 and $3.40.
Get Ready Bertie (More Than Ready) made an early move to reach contention on
the backstretch and kept on well to finish a clear second, paying $8.90 and
$4.20 at 7-1. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to 6-5 favorite Successful
Outlook (Orientate), who tired after opening up a daylight lead through splits
of :23 3/5, :47 and 1:11 4/5. Show gave back $2.30. The exacta was worth
$100.50, the trifecta totaled $315, and with 34-1 longshot Grace Happens
(Aptitude) plugging on for fourth, the 4-3-2-7 superfecta was $3,568. Super
Natascha (Pulpit) checked in fifth, trailed by Duchess of Stanco (Scorpion),
Miss Goodnight (Johannesburg), Grand Merger (A.P. Indy) and Rivanna River (Storm
Creek).
The Kentucky-bred Boca Grande is the second registered foal from four-time graded stakes
queen Country Hideaway (Seeking the Gold), whose most notable scores came in the
1999 and 2000 editions of the First Flight H. (G2). In addition, she placed in
seven graded contests, including two runner-up efforts in the Ballerina H. (G1)
(2000 and 2001) and a third in the 2000 Ruffian H. (G1). Country Hideaway has
also produced a yearling colt by Dynaformer named Vacation and a weanling colt
by El Prado (Ire).
Country Hideaway is herself a full sister to 2005 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1)
heroine Pleasant Home. Another full sister, the winning Matlacha Pass, is the
dam of the ill-fated Pine Island (Arch), who ranks as a contender for champion
three-year-old filly honors in view of her impressive tallies in the 2006
Alabama S. (G1) and Gazelle S. (G1). Boca Grande’s third dam, Maplejinsky
(Nijinsky II), won the 1988 Alabama and later produced champion and nine-time
Grade 1 winner Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom [Fr]). Boca Grande’s fourth dam,
champion sprinter Gold Beauty (Mr. Prospector), also produced world class
sprinter and sire Dayjur, England’s Horse of the Year in 1990.
Boca Grande has two wins and a third from three starts. She finished third in
her debut at Saratoga and promptly broke her maiden next time out, scoring by 5
1/4 lengths in a one-mile maiden special weight event at Belmont Park. With the
$120,000 Demoiselle payday, the dark bay nearly quintupled her earnings to
$151,100.
McGaughey said that Boca Grande would ship to her winter quarters in Florida
on Tuesday and plans to begin her three-year-old campaign at Gulfstream Park.
“There is a lot to look forward to,” McGaughey said.
Judging by the Demoiselle, fans would certainly agree.