by Steve Bailey

Nashoba’s Key returned to her roots on Saturday and remained unbeaten after she wore down Grade 1 winner Citronnade in the final furlong to win the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G1) at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Carla Gaines, the four-year-old Silver Hawk filly won her first three career starts on turf and then switched to synthetic surfaces for her next three victories in the Milady Breeders’ Cup (G2), Vanity Invitational (G1), and the Clement L. Hirsch (G2) Handicaps.

Gamely Stakes (G1) winner Citronnade quickly hustled to the front in the Yellow Ribbon and led Nashoba’s Key, who was never more than a length behind, through a comfortable half-mile in :48.31 and a mile in 1:36.14.

Rounding the final turn, jockey Joe Talamo and Nashoba’s Key caught Citronnade and matched her stride for stride through the stretch before overtaking the determined pacesetter with about a furlong remaining to win by three-quarters of a length, covering 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.73 on turf rated as firm.

Citronnade, who had been unbeaten in five previous starts in California, continued to battle and held for second, a nose in front of the fast-closing Black Mamba (NZ).

Nashoba’s Key, who is out of the Caerleon mare Nashoba (Ire), the  has never raced on a conventional dirt surface and her connections—Gaines and owner-breeder Warren Williamson—have said she is more likely for the Emirates Airline Filly and Mare Turf (G1) than the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Breeders’ Cup World Championships day on October 27 at Monmouth Park.

Bred in California, Nashoba’s Key is unbeaten in seven career starts—all this year as a four-year-old—and has earned $863,460.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times