Del Mar Saturday

Del Mar Oaks (Grade 1)

DEL Mar’s weekend feature, the nine-furlong turf Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks was unusual in that the first three home were bred in Britian and Ireland. It also could have revealed a new female turf star on the west coast as Anisette, a three-year-old daughter of Awtaad, powered through to win her first Grade 1 race.

Unbeaten in the US, Anisette was coming off a sparkling win in the July 22nd Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile on the turf at Del Mar and looks a very high class filly.

Her impressive performance gives her plenty of options with the Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup a big attraction.

Ten three-year-old fillies lined up with Ruby Nell going to the lead. Anisette broke well for Umberto Rispoli, who then settled her in last. Ruby Nell got to the half-mile in a steady 47.21secs.

Rispoli chose the inside route on Anisette and she responded quickly, flying through on the rail to the lead after they had turned into the straight. She sped away to score by two and three quarter lengths in 1m48.15secs for the nine furlongs. Irish-breds were second and third - Be Your Best second, a neck ahead of Impact Warrior,

“She’s been very straightforward since we got her,” Powell said on BloodHorse. “She’s got a great quality in that she’s got two or three moves in a race, not only one move. Her turn of foot made the difference at the top of the lane. I didn’t think we’d be so far back, especially with a half mile in 47, but she was good enough to overcome that and close the ground.”

She went through the ring at Tattersalls Somerville yearlings for just 26,000gns in 2021.

Anisette’s three starts in Britain for Kevin Philippart De Foy saw her break her maiden in her third start, at Wolverhampton last December, and she made her US debut in May.

Randomized goes for all the way win

Saratoga Saturday

Alabama Stakes (Grade 1)

THERE was a bit of a shock in the east coast Grade 1, the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga, on Saturday.

Klaravich Stables are one of the strongest competitors on the current US racing scene and with Chad Brown, they picked up another Grade 1 with the Nyquist filly Randomized who proved much too good for the Godolphin favourite Wet Paint over the 10-furlong trip.

The filly had front-running wins in the Wilton Stakes and an Aqueduct Racetrack maiden but was well beaten in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes, her only graded race effort.

“I have to give Seth Klarman a lot of credit,” Brown said. “He kept looking at the race and saying how fast the filly is and we should consider running her.”

She took the lead and never looked back in capturing the Alabama by four lengths from 9/5 favourite Wet Paint. “I was very disappointed by the Acorn but I wasn’t really discouraged because I knew how fast she had run. I don’t think she appreciated the dirt in her face in the Acorn.”

Under different tactics, Rosario grabbed the early lead by a length over Defining Purpose through comfortable fractions.

Godolphin’s Coaching Club American Oaks winner Wet Paint was closer to the pace than usual.

Approaching the quarter pole, Randomized had the measure of Defining Purpose. Wet Paint moved into second but could not gain ground in the final furlong as the winner went on to cross the line in 2m03.07secs.

“Maybe she was closer to the pace than I expected but overall I was very happy with the trip. She was second best. We’ll regoup and see where we go from here,” Cox said about Wet Paint.

Randomized cost $420,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.