NEWS
Serenading swoops to Falls City Handicap score
Posted: Friday, November 27, 2009 1:59 PM
SERENADING
Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
To view the Falls City Handicap, click here.
by Mike Curry
Serenading secured her first career graded stakes win and spoiled the career finale for Grade 1 winner Unbridled Belle on Thursday in the $160,950 Falls City Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs.
The Falls City also was slated to be the final start for Serenading, but trainer Josie Carroll will reconsider that plan after the five-year-old A.P. Indy mare stalked the pace and powered to a three-length win for owners John G. Sikura and Glenn Sikura.
"It was [her final start] until today. I'll have to sit down with [co-owner] John [Sikura]. Prior to the race, we thought she did everything she needed to do for him. She's been a great mare,” Carroll said. “But he said if she proved herself capable of winning Grade 2s or better, then perhaps we'd keep her going. So I'll sit down with him and make sure everything is good after the race and see what happens next.”
Out of the multiple stakes-winning Deputy Minister mare Daijin, a full sister to 1997 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and sire Touch Gold and a half sister to Canadian Horse of the Year and sire With Approval, Serenading improved to six wins, seven seconds, and two thirds from 18 starts. She earned her third stakes win in the Falls City and boosted her bankroll to $538,754.
"She's a lovely, lovely mare,” Carroll said. “You know I had a lot of confidence that she'd run well on dirt. She had one dirt start in her life at Fair Grounds, and she put forth a big performance that day.”
Serenading stalked pacesetter Best Lass from second through six furlongs in 1:13.02 under Julien Leparoux and had plenty of stamina in reserve to fend off runner-up Morena (Per) and 2007 Beldame Stakes (G1) winner Unbridled Belle. Serenading completed 1 1/8 miles on a track rated as fast in 1:50.66.
Morena was 2 1/2 lengths clear of Unbridled Belle, who rallied from four wide at the three-eighths pole before flattening out. Jockey Ramon Dominguez said a stumble at the start compromised Unbridled Belle’s chances. The five-time graded stakes winner closed her career with eight wins from 25 starts and more than $1.9-million in purse earnings.
"She broke a little on the awkward side, and after that I just had to kind of settle and stalk from the outside. She didn't have her usual punch down the lane today,” Dominguez said. “I was hoping to be on the lead or controlling the pace, but when she broke like that I had to go to 'Plan B.' It wasn't ideal."
Grade 1 winner Swift Temper, also slated to make her final career start, was scratched from the race by trainer Dale Romans.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
