Longshot Holy wish (Not this time) just outlasted the favorites Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) to win the GI Matriarch Stakes and give her sire a win in the two graded events at Del Mar on Sunday. The 4-year-old filly was successful in six rated competitions, but the Matriarch was her first win at the rated level and her victory over Gina Romantica ended trainer Chad Brown's streak of four straight wins.
Sacred Wish was sent off at 12-1 and was just off the mark Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy) as he races along the railing behind fractions of :23.32 and :47.57. Gina Romantica, making the final start of her career, was in the next pair behind and was closing in as the field entered the back corner and posed a looming threat. Sacred Wish eventually tipped a path off the rail at the top of the lane and was the first run on the favorite. She caught up with the pacesetter in a huge stretch and had just enough momentum to narrowly hold off Gina Romantica on the wire, completing the mile in 1:34.76.
“She’s a great horse,” said jockey John Velazquez about the winner. “I thought she would get me further down the lane and I could get her going in the corner. And it worked perfectly. The horse in the lead [Ag Bullet] got me where I thought. She pulled back and had a nice kick to fight her way down the trail.”
Blair Golen, assistant to winning trainer George Weaver, added: “Ag Bullet set it up just perfectly for them. She didn't run too quick, was comfortable behind horses and this time managed to climb the railing and make it. Johnny already had it in his head that he would ask her to leave instead of waiting for her and that she would be where she put herself. He has ridden her so well in the past. He gets along well with her and I’m just so glad he was able to come out and ride her.”
Sacred Wish, who was a close second in the 2023 GI Coaching Club American Oaks, came into matriarch GIII Goldikova with second-place finishes in the GIII Matchmaker Stakes on July 20 and the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes on August 31 and a third-place finish Stakes from November 2nd.
Family Tree Notes:
Sacred Wish became the 19th winner for Not This Time, whose son Clock Tower became his 18th just about an hour earlier with his victory in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille Stakes.
Indian Wish has a yearling colt by Knicks Go that sold for $40,000 at Keeneland in September, and she was bred to Epicenter this year. She is a half-sister to Grade I placed Sister Girl Blues (Hold for Gold), the dam of GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line (Line of David), and the dams of Grade I winner Edged Azteca (Freud) and Bowie's Hero (Artie Schiller).
On behalf of his Chromedome partners, John Penn purchased Indian Wish with Sacred Wish in utero for $22,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Auction.
Sunday, Del Mar
MATRIARCH S.-GI$303,000, Del Mar, 12-1, 3yrs/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34.76, fm.
1–SACRED WISH, 123, f, 4, from Not This Time
1st mother: Indian Wish, by Indian Charlie
2nd mother: Sister Girl, by Conquistador Cielo
3rd mother: Scipio, from Danzig
1ST STAGE WINS, 1ST STAGE I WON. ($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $50,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher T. Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola; B-John R. Penn (KY); T George Weaver; J-John R. Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime record: 17-4-6-3, $985,138. Work, Nick Rating: B+. Click for that eNicks report and 5-cross family tree. Click for free Catalog style pedigree from Equineline.com.
2–Gina Romantica, 123, m, 5, by Into Mischief
1. Mother: Special Me, from Unbridled's Song
2nd Mother: Delta Danielle, by Lord Avie
3rd Mother: Domasco Danielle, from Same Direction
($1,025,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden and Craig Brogden (KY); T Chad C. Brown. 60,000.
3–Ag Bullet, 123, f, 4, by Twirling Candy
1st mother: Noble Grey, by Forestry
2nd Mother: Never Fail, by Holy Bull
3. Mother: Peaceful Intention, by Hold Your Peace
($30,000 FY '20 KEENOV; $220,000 FY '21 KESEP). Calvin Nguyen and Joey C. Tran; BH&E Ranch (KY); T-Richard Baltas. $36,000.
Margins: NK, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 12.80, 1.30, 3.00.
Also running: Tax Implications (UK), Aspen Grove (Ire), Child of the Moon (Fr), Mouffy, Nadette (Fr), Aussie Girl (Ire), Prerequisite, Tirupati. Scratched: Kehoe Beach.
Click for that Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO sponsored by FanDuel TV.
Up to the liiiiiiiine. 🎙️
Sacred Wish storms to victory in Grade I Matriarch. pic.twitter.com/p0bQvcC7nl
— Del Mar Race Track (@DelMarRacing) December 1, 2024
