“Home sweet home,” Carroll summed up,
“When she walked into the paddock, how could you not have confidence? She was
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As expected, the speedy Zaskar (GB) (Anabaa) barreled to the early
lead and dictated fractions of :24, :48 2/5 and 1:13 2/5 while prompted
by Leamington (Pleasant Tap). My Baby Baby (Bernstein) and 7-2 favorite
Lemon Chiffon (Lemon Drop Kid) stalked on the outside, with You Go West
Girl enjoying a ground-saving trip along the hedge.
On the far turn, Lemon Chiffon launched a bold move and soon struck
the front, but she was immediately challenged straightening up into the
stretch. The first to accost her was My Baby Baby, who delivered her bid
to the inside. The more dangerous rallies, however, were materializing
wider out. As You Go West Girl angled out for room, Acoma was erupting
down the center of the course for new rider Jesus Castanon.
You Go West Girl and Acoma rapidly opened up on Lemon Chiffon inside the
final furlong, and the two closers battled heads apart. You Go West Girl dug
down gamely along the inside, but Acoma ultimately proved too strong.
“I had a heck of a good trip around today,” Castanon said. “I waited as long
as I could before I made a move toward home. When I finally moved for home, she
really had a great turn of foot. When we went around the turn for the first time
she was in the bridle, but when we were on the backside she really began to
settle in nicely and relax. She really just seems to love it here.”
You Go West Girl, the third choice at 9-2, returned $5.40 and $3.80 for her
near-miss effort. Lemon Chiffon crossed the wire another 3 1/4 lengths back in
third, yielding $3.20. The exotics were worth $54.80 (exacta), $269.40
(trifecta) and $1,240.20 (3-1-9-5 superfecta) with the 5-1 Long Approach (Broad
Brush) in fourth. My Baby Baby faded to fifth, followed by Social Queen (Dynaformer),
Leamington, Tizfiz (Tiznow) and Zaskar.
The Kentucky-bred Acoma improved
her overall record to 14-8-1-2, $665,999. Her love affair with the Twin Spires
spans both dirt and turf. The first two of her Churchill scores
came on the main track as a three-year-old in 2008 — an entry-level allowance
followed by the Dogwood S. (G3). Over the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill, Acoma captured the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) last fall and the Mint Julep H. (G3) in
June, just holding on from Pure Clan (Pure Prize) in the latter.
Acoma’s versatility as a capable performer on both dirt and turf is reflected
at other venues as well. Last season, she captured the Valley View S. (G3) at
Keeneland in her turf debut, and finished second in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) on
dirt. She started her 2009 campaign on a high note with a five-length romp in
the Azeri S. (G3) at Oaklawn on dirt, but disappointed when beaten 11 1/2
lengths into third in a modest renewal of the Apple Blossom H. (G1).
After her Mint Julep victory over Pure Clan, Acoma reverted to dirt for the
lucrative Delaware H. (G2), where she retreated to an uncharacteristic last of
six. Subsequent blood work revealed that something was amiss. Freshened for
three months, Acoma returned in the grassy First Lady, only to wind up last of
nine. Carroll believed that the soft ground may have contributed to
that poor showing, her first loss on turf.
To say that Acoma descends from a strong female family would be an understatement.
Her dam, stakes winner and Grade-3 placed Aurora (Danzig), has also produced
Grade 1 winner and sire Arch (Kris S.) and U.A.E. Horse of the Year Festival of
Light (A.P. Indy), as well as Arch’s multiple stakes-winning full brother
Alisios. Aurora is herself a full sister to Japanese champion filly Yamanin
Paradise (Danzig).
Acoma’s second dam was 1983 champion two-year-old filly Althea (Alydar) and
her third dam, Courtly Dee (Never Bend), was named Kentucky Broodmare of the
Year in 1983. This female family has produced numerous stakes winners, including
Grade/Group 1 conquerors Balletto (UAE) (Timber Country), Ali Oop (Al Hattab),
Ketoh (Exclusive Native), Aldiza (Storm Cat) and Green Desert (Danzig).
Acoma has an unraced juvenile full sister named Asian Empress, a yearling
half-sister named Amara (Bernardini) and a weanling half-sister by Dynaformer.
“That’s it for this year,” Carroll said regarding plans for Acoma. “We’ll
shut her down and get ready for next year. We needed to see that race from her
and why not? The Breeders’ Cup is here next year.
“This is a filly with a great pedigree, and we look forward to a big year next
year.”