Gould Farmily Trust or Dixon’s SINGHALESE (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) rallied
widest of all into the stretch and gamely prevailed for a half-length victory in
Saturday’s $300,000
Del Mar Oaks (G1). Sent off the 7-2 second choice with Mike
Smith, the James Cassidy-trained sophomore filly recorded her first stakes
victory when completing 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf in 1:46 1/5. Runner-up
Three Degrees (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]), the 9-5 favorite, finished well along the
inside but could not match strides with the winner late.
Dancing Edie (Moscow Ballet), who drew in from the also-eligibles list,
sprinted to a clear early lead from her far outside post and carved a spirited
pace in :22 4/5 and :46 4/5 while Singhalese relaxed far back in eighth. The
eventual winner began to advance on the outside on the far turn as the field and
Dancing Edie appeared done as she completed six panels in 1:11, but the
pacesetter had more in reserve and continued on gamely to the wire. Three
Degrees, who was in tight quarters on the far turn and into the stretch, took
off after the lead once she found clear sailing near the rail, but Singhalese
was moving too strongly on the grandstand side and charged past for the victory.
She paid $9.40, $4.40 and $3.40 for the win, and Three Degrees returned $3.60
and $3. Dancing Edie finished another 1 1/4 lengths back at 20-1 and gave back
$6.80. Rounding out the order of finish was Berbatim (Bernstein), Rich in Spirit
(Repriced), Louvain (Ire) (Sinndar), Peaceful Love (Ger) (Dashing Blade), Lasika
(GB) (Pursuit of Love) and Shining Energy (Rahy) following the defections of Mi
Luna Nueva (El Prado [Ire]) and Isla Cozzene (Cozzene). The $1 exotics totaled
$12.80 (exacta), $196.70 (trifecta) and $861.60 (1-3-11-10 superfecta).
Bred in Great Britain by G. and Mrs. Middlebrook, Singhalese raced in England
at two and was transferred to Cassidy’s Southern Californian stable for her
three-year-old campaign. The chestnut miss finished fourth in her first two U.S.
starts against graded rivals and then recorded a third against a stellar field
in the American Invitational Oaks (G1). She entered Saturday’s contest off a
confidence-building victory earlier in the meet over optional claiming/allowance
opponents. With Saturday’s Grade 1 score, Singhalese, who is the first stakes
winner out of the Group 3-placed mare Baize (GB) (Efisio), has now earned
$357,647 from a 9-3-0-3 line.
“We were a little unlucky the first couple of times she ran,” said Cassidy,
who will celebrate his 60th birthday on Sunday. “In the American Oaks, she had
to chase that superstar from Japan (Cesario [Brz]). I put her in the allowance
race here to get her mind back in the game. She was awesome there and I thought
she would do well today.”
The final time was .03 off the stakes record.