Red Lark lands Grade 1 win at Del Mar.
The Irish-bred Red Lark (3 f ex Firecrest by Darshaan) took the step into elite level company in her stride as she upstaged her more fancied rivals to land the Del Mar Oaks (Gr 1, 9f) on Saturday and in so doing became Darley Australia-based sire Epaulette's (Commands) second top-flight winner and 14th stakes winner.
Last seen running third in an allowance race at Del Mar last month, the Patrick Gallagher-trained filly produced a brilliant performance to beat California Kook (Boisterous) by a length, while Warren's Showtime (Clubhouse Ride) finished another half a length adrift in third.
"The allowance race here set her up well, and she came out of it good. I was confident in the filly; I knew she was happy and all, but I didn't know if she was good enough. She needed to run the race of her life, and she did," Gallagher said. "Drayden (Van Dyke) had her in a great spot all the way, and when he asked, she responded and was good enough."
The three-year-old started her career in Ireland with trainer Johnny Murtagh and she one of 11 winners out of Galtres Stakes (Listed, 1m3.5f) winning Darshaan (Shirley Heights) mare Firecrest, who is also the dam of stakes-placed All Set To Go (Verglas).
Firecast herself is a half-sister to Trois Etoiles (Alysheba) - the dam of Indian Listed winners Artesia (Multidimensional) and Noble Option (Razeen).
Red Lark joins South African Grade 1 winner is Australian-bred Soqrat as Epaulette's other top-flight winner.
The son of Commands (Danehill) shuttled to Europe for five seasons, spending four at Darley's Kildangan base in Ireland and one year at their Dalham Hall base in Newmarket and he will stand the upcoming breeding season at Kelvinside for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
