December 29, 2024

My Conquestadory makes scintillating debut in Summer

Last updated: 9/14/13 7:04 PM











My Conquestadory was en emphatic debut winner against males in the Summer

(WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

The ladies shined at Woodbine on Saturday, two fair maidens in particular.

My Conquestadory, an unraced juvenile filly facing eight colts and geldings
in the Grade 2, $205,544
Summer,
made a spectacular first impression in the one-mile grass test which earned her
a starting berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita in
November.

Under Eurico da Silva, the daughter of Artie Schiller enjoyed a
stalk-and-pounce journey and ultimately slammed her rivals by 3 1/4 lengths
while finishing up in 1:34 4/5 over firm ground. The 5-1 third choice, she
returned $12.90 to win.



“I didn’t think about losing the race. It never came to my mind that she
could be beat,” da Silva said. “I had great confidence in her and the whole team
said how nice she is. She’s a great filly.”

Rating in fourth as Tropic of Artie set fractions of :23 1/5, :46 1/5 and
1:10 4/5, My Conquestadory responded well at the top of the stretch and drew off
under hand urging to score the convincing victory over 27-1 longshot Go Bro,
with Matador another head behind in third.

Completing the order of finish were Dig Alittle Deeper, Tropic of Artie, Grom,
3-1 favorite School On a Hill, Asserting Bear, and Phenomenalmoon. Spanish
Flower was scratched.

Owned by Conquest Stables and trained by Mark Casse, My Conquestadory earned
a winner’s share of $115,908. She is the first filly to win the Summer since
2006, when Dreaming of Anna won en route to taking the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies and divisional honors in the U.S.

A $240,000 OBS March two-year-old in training purchase, My Conquestadory was
bred in Kentucky by Paul Tackett and is the first foal out of the multiple
stakes-placed Golden Artemis, a daughter of Native Trinket. Also hailing from
this family is the multiple Grade 2-winning sprinter Kelly Kip.










Llanarmon was in the right place at the right time in an eventful renewal of the Natalma

(WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

Ready to Act appeared ready to win the Grade 2, $217,907
Natalma,
but when the 8-5 favorite unexpectedly veered toward the rail at the eighth pole,
relinquishing a two-length advantage and unseating jockey Rajiv Maragh, the race
was thrown wide open.

Llanarmon, who had saved ground throughout and improved position around the
turn, advanced between rivals while avoiding a riderless Ready to Act and drove
home the upset winner under Emma-Jayne Wilson. A 9-1 chance making her second
career start, Llanarmon returned $20.40 after completing one mile on firm turf
in 1:35 4/5.

“I was really happy with my position,” Wilson said. “When I called on her,
despite the activity, she was really strong. She stalled, had a look at
everything, regained her focus and finished up.”



Unspurned set a pace of :23 4/5 and :47, tracked all the time by Ready to
Act, who broke a tad slowly but quickly settled into striking position. Edging
past that rival after three-quarters was reached in 1:11 1/5. The filly opened
up what looked like an insurmountable advantage shortly before the furlong pole,
but then lost concentration and ducked inside in front of a tiring Unspurned,
who struck Maragh after he fell to the turf.

The racing program was delayed while Maragh was attended to following the
Natalma. Alert and conscious following the spill, he was taken to a local
hospital for assessment.

There was three-way tussle for second, with Spanish Flower edging
Appreciating by a neck and Madly Truly another head behind in fourth. Skylander
Girl, Unspurned and Spring Likeacobra were the last three across the finish.
Ready to Act did not officially finish, while Henry’s Island and My
Conquestadory were scratched.

Bred in Ontario by Cavendish Investing, owned by Harlequin Ranches and
trained by Roger Attfield, Llanarmon debuted at Woodbine on
August 13 in a seven-furlong maiden event on the grass. Steadied early, the dark
bay rallied from near the back to finish third, 1 1/2 lengths behind
Appreciating. She now has earnings of $146,108.

Llanarmon, who also earned an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies Turf, is a daughter of Sky Mesa and was produced by the Grade 3-winning Gold
Strike, a daughter of Smart Strike. In addition to her Grade 3 score in the
Selene, Gold Strike also captured the Woodbine Oaks and placed against males in the
Queen’s Plate.




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