NEWS
Acoma takes Cardinal Handicap in a dogfight
Posted: Saturday, November 21, 2009 6:27 PM
To view the Cardinal Handicap, click here.
by Tim Nichols
Acoma maintained her perfect record on Churchill Downs’ turf course but needed to summon all of her determination to win the $111,700 Cardinal Handicap (G3) on Saturday.
The four-year-old Empire Maker filly battled multiple stakes winner You Go West Girl stride for stride in the final furlong and prevailed by a head. A Helen Alexander and Helen Groves homebred, Acoma covered 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:50.02 for the win at odds of 3.70-to-1 under Jesus Castanon.
The multiple graded stakes winner entered the race off sub-par performances in the Delaware Handicap (G2) on July 19 and the First Lady Stakes (G1) on October 10. Despite her recent form, however, Acoma typically brings her best when racing on Churchill’s turf course.
In two previous starts on Churchill’s turf, she won this year’s Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (G3) by a neck and the 2008 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) by 1¼ lengths.
“Home, sweet home,” winning trainer David Carroll said. “She loves it here, obviously. She’d been training beautifully. … I just told Jesus to ride her with confidence because she’s let you know when she’s there. Down the backside, he had a lot of horse.”
Acoma broke in air and raced in seventh through the first half-mile as Zaskar (GB) led the field of nine fillies and mares through four furlongs in :48.55.
Acoma advanced three wide on the turn as Zaskar gave way entering the stretch. Acoma flashed an electric turn of foot in the lane but You Go West Girl doggedly accelerated along the inside. The two battled stride for stride before Acoma gallantly surged ahead for the victory.
“I waited as long as I could before I made a move toward home,” Castanon said. “When I finally moved for home, she had a great turn of foot.”
You Go West Girl finished 3¼ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Lemon Chiffon.
Bred in Kentucky, Acoma improved to eight wins from 14 career starts and has earned $665,999. A half sister to Grade 1 winner Arch, Group 3 winner Festival of Light, and stakes winner Alisios, Acoma is one of six winners from seven starters out of the stakes-winning Danzig mare Aurora.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor for Thoroughbred Times
