Strathnaver keeps record-setting Rosario on a roll in
Bewitch
Rosario entered Thursday’s card with 30 wins at Keeneland this month, only
After winning the 3RD race aboard the Wesley Ward-trained Judy the Beauty,
The record-breaking ride also came for the Ramseys and Maker, when Rosario
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Andrew Stone’s Strathnaver had mostly plied her trade in handicaps in her
native England. Although the Oasis Dream filly was stepping up in both class and
distance here, she had scored impressively in her American debut at Gulfstream
Park. Rosario engineered her rallying victory in that March 16 allowance, where
she equaled the course record of 1:56.39 for 1 3/16 miles on turf, and evidently
liked her enough to keep faith with her at Keeneland.
Gathering, the slight 2-1 favorite, proved a handful on the early lead. As
Rosie Napravnik tried to get her to relax, Gathering was eager to go through
fractions of :24 2/5, :48 4/5 and 1:13 on the firm turf. Scampering pressed the
pace, followed by Alaura Michele and Dynarama. The top four pulled clear of the
rest of the field, with Strathnaver, fellow Stone colorbearer Qushchi and 2-1
second choice Regalo Mia all prominent in the chasing group.
Scampering drew to within a half-length of Gathering at the mile mark in 1:38
3/5, and put her head in front through 1 1/4 miles in 2:05. But both were spent
by then, and in the process of being inhaled by Regalo Mia. Darting through
along the rail turning into the stretch, Regalo Mia made an eye-catching move
and took command.
Meanwhile, Stone’s duo of Qushchi and Strathnaver were taking the overland
route into contention. Strathnaver was hung out widest of all, but summoned the
best turn of foot to collar Regalo Mia. Briefly tightening up Qushchi during her
triumphant finish, Strathnaver edged one length clear of Regalo Mia in a final
time of 2:30 3/5 for 1 1/2 grassy miles.
“I thought she was very impressive that day at Gulfstream,” Motion said.
Qushchi crossed the wire three-quarters of a length off Regalo Mia, giving
Regalo Mia’s trainer, Michelle Nihei, was happy with her effort.
“I thought she ran an outstanding race and that (jockey) Luis (Contreras) did
“I think (Contreras) went where he saw a hole,” Nihei added of his
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“Every decision means a lot when you are (close to winning). On another day,
if we had differed in paths and decisions it might have been a reverse (finish).
But still we competed against a very nice (winner) today.”
Kissable closed from far back for fourth, and Alaura Michele checked in
fifth. Motion’s other runner, Team Valor International and Robert LaPenta’s
Angegreen, ran evenly in sixth. Rounding out the order of finish were
Scampering, And Why Not, Gathering, Dynarama and Revelstoke. Charming She Is was
scratched.
Napravnik commented on Gathering’s disappointing show.
“She was very good in the (starting) gate, which is probably the worst thing
that happened,” Napravnik said. “She broke so sharp that she wouldn’t relax. We
had quite a bit of pressure on the front end, so she got pretty tired at the
end.”
Strathnaver’s first career stakes coup boosted her bankroll to $133,336 from
an 11-4-1-0 record. Trained by Ed Dunlop in England, the bay broke her maiden
over Lingfield’s Polytrack at third asking as a juvenile. She won once at three
last season, taking a handicap on the Lingfield turf, and she placed in a
Goodwood handicap. Strathnaver tried stakes company in her final British outing
last November, but was outclassed when eighth in the Gillies Fillies’ Stakes at
Doncaster.
Bred by Mrs. C.R. Philipson and Mrs. H.G. Lascelles in Great Britain,
Strathnaver sold for $383,888 as a Tattersalls October yearling. She is a
half-sister to Siyaadah, winner of the 2010 U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas and
third in the U.A.E. Oaks. Their dam, Grade 2 heroine River Belle, by Lahib, is
in turn a half-sister to Italian classic-placed stakes winner Kiralik.
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