CJ Thoroughbreds’ Hang the Moon is getting the hang of pulling upsets in major turf races. After stunning Anisette in the Sept. 7 John C. Mabee (G2) at Del Mar, the 9.90-1 shot delivered another last-to-first move in Saturday’s $201,000 Rodeo Drive (G2) at Santa Anita.
Only this time, Hang the Moon was upstaging fellow Phil D’Amato trainee Iscreamuscream, who wound up fourth as the 3-2 favorite. D’Amato was celebrating a graded stakes double on the card, having sent out One Magic Philly to floor Sweet Azteca in the $98,000 Chillingworth (G3).
Rodeo Drive (G2)
With the Rodeo Drive serving as a “Win and You’re In” event, Hang the Moon secured her free pass to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
“We had the right strategy for Hang the Moon,” D’Amato said. “We planned to do the same thing as we did last time: sit back and come with the run. She came with a monstrous run late.
“It was a weirdly run race. I thought my other filly, Lucky Girl, would sit back there with Hang the Moon, and she ended up being on the lead early.”
Weird could also describe how the race unfolded for the hitherto unbeaten Iscreamuscream, who reared in the gate and veered out twice early in the race. The Del Mar Oaks (G1) heroine first went wide after traversing the dirt crossing from the downhill portion of the course to the main circuit. Appearing to settle down comfortably in front, she clocked an opening quarter in :23.53 on the firm turf.
Then Iscreamuscream lugged out again, to an even worse degree, entering the clubhouse turn, and forced Be Your Best way out into the middle of the course. As a result, Lucky Girl suddenly saw daylight, and she took the opportunity to shoot through on the inside to take over after the half in :47.84.
Lucky Girl became too enthusiastic as the pacesetter, reeling off fractions of 1:11.16 and 1:35.16. She accordingly paid for it down the lane.
Although Iscreamuscream was still in the hunt and Aspen Grove made a menacing move up the rail, Hang the Moon was rallying best of all wider out. Under a well-judged ride by Kazushi Kimura, the Uncle Mo filly blew by them to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths. Hang the Moon blitzed 1 1/4 miles in 1:58.58 and rewarded her loyalists with $21.80.
Aspen Grove held second by three-quarters of a length from the closing Beach Bomb. Iscreamuscream flattened out another length back in fourth. It’s unclear whether she just failed to stay the trip in principle, found life more challenging versus elders, or compromised herself with her early adventures. Next came Sunset Glory, Be Your Best, and Lucky Girl.
Hang the Moon advanced her scorecard to 12-5-1-1, $427,913. Third in last year’s Hilltop S. at Pimlico for original trainer Mike Stidham, the four-year-old has thrived since taking up residence in Southern California. She scored in a June 9 allowance at Santa Anita in her debut for D’Amato, placed second to the speedy Ag Bullet in the July 21 Osunitas S. at Del Mar, and kept progressing to surprise in the John C. Mabee. The Rodeo Drive validated her newfound status as a force in the division.
Bred by Repole Stable in Kentucky, Hang the Moon brought $200,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. Her dam, the Malibu Moon mare Moondance, belongs to the productive “Bertie” family that’s responsible for current millionaire Brilliant Berti.
Chillingworth (G3)
The D’Amato-trained One Magic Philly likewise sported an upwardly-mobile profile going into the 6 1/2-furlong Chillingworth, which has implications for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
Sweet Azteca ranked as the 1-10 favorite in the wake of four straight wins, including the Beholder Mile (G1), Great Lady M (G2), and Rancho Bernardo H. (G3). But she imploded under early pressure from One Magic Philly, the 3.80-1 second choice in her stakes debut.
“We knew the horse to beat was on our inside (Sweet Azteca), and we had to take it to her if we broke well,” D’Amato said. “I knew if we could stick with Sweet Azteca for the first part of the race, we would have a chance. And it just worked out.”
Jockey Antonio Fresu executed the game plan to perfection. One Magic Philly hounded Sweet Azteca through splits of :21.76 and :44.10, when the favorite began to sputter. Sweet Azteca was beaten turning for home, and her stride shortened noticeably as she dropped to the rear of the short field.
But One Magic Philly was still full of run, opening up by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:16.14. The sophomore capitalized on her light weight of 118 pounds, but she won in the manner of an exciting prospect.
The rest were well strung out. Irish Wahine closed for second, followed by Kirstenbosch and Sweet Azteca.
One Magic Philly’s resume now reads 4-3-1-0, $161,400. As a May 8 foal, the John Gallegos homebred didn’t make it to the races until this summer. Her lone loss came in her June 15 debut to Hope Road, who’s gone on to romp in her next two, notably the Torrey Pines (G3).
Ironically, Hope Road was expected to be Sweet Azteca’s main rival in the Chillingworth, but she scratched. Also withdrawn were Chismosa and Anywho.
Kentucky-bred One Magic Philly is a Good Magic half-sister to stakes scorer My Philly Twirl. Their dam, the Empire Maker mare My Philly Girl, is herself a half to multiple Group 3-placed stakes victress Loch Lein. This is the further family of Bandini and Lord North.
Speakeasy S.
Before Kimura went last-to-first aboard Hang the Moon, he engineered a similar trip with the 13-1 Pali Kitten in the $98,000 Speakeasy S. The Doug O’Neill pupil thereby raised his profile for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).
The 3-10 favorite Dreamaway scampered clear through an opening quarter in :21.63, but she could not maintain her speed down the stretch. Smash It collared her at the half-mile mark in :44.67, only to be accosted by the surging Pali Kitten.
A neck on top at the wire, Pali Kitten clocked five grassy furlongs in :56.11. The Vino Rosso colt improved his record to 3-2-0-0, $92,700.
Smash It was 3 1/4 lengths clear of third-placer Dreamaway. Tiz Happy trailed the field that was reduced by the scratches of Kale’s Angel, I’m a Bad Boy, Timty, and Snowdonia. Kale’s Angel was cross-entered to Sunday’s Zuma Beach (G3), while I’m a Bad Boy is in the preceding seventh race.
