Talented filly Madone lands Senorita Stakes at Santa Anita
The Simon Callaghan-trained Madone (3 f ex Indian Love Call by Cherokee Run) got her three-year-old career off the to the perfect start when she landed the Senorita Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) at Santa Anita on Saturday and in the process handed former Coolmore Stud reverse shuttler Vancouver (Medgalia d’Oro) with his third Group winner.
The filly landed two listed events as a two-year-old, but she had not been seen since surrendering her unbeaten record in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Gr 1, 8f) in November, but regained her winning sequence on Saturday when beating Golden (Tapit) by a length, while Closing Remarks (Vronsky) was further length and a half away in third.
“We thought she was ready although, you never quite know,” said Callaghan. “It's just easier to get them ready to run on turf than it is on dirt. So we were confident her fitness level was where it needed to be and Juan gave a perfect ride. She broke well, put herself in a good position, and she had a good turn of foot when it was needed, that was fun.”
Madone was purchased by Nicoma Bloodstock for US$70,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale from the Shawhan Place draft. She was then bought by S.R. Schwartz for US$50,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Mill Ridge Sales draft, before being bought by Ben McElroy for US$125,000 at the OBS March Sales last year.
The filly is one of five winners out of Indian Love Call (Cherokee Run), who is herself out of Mood Music (Kingmambo), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Allegre (Orientate).
Mood Music herself is out of Grade 3 winner Lead Kindly Light (Majestic Light) - who is also the dam of Grade 1 winner Gold Fever (Forty Niner) and Listed scorer Emanating (Cox's Ridge) who in turn Grade 1 winner Boisterous (Distorted Humor).
Madone joins South African Grade 2 winner Mount Pleasant and Yaletown as the stallion’s other Group winners, while Listed winner Night Raid completes the stallion’s stakes winners.
Vancouver shuttled to Coolmore’s Ashford base in Kentucky for two seasons and he will stand the 2021 season for a reduced fee of $22,000 (inc GST), having stood last season for $30,250 (inc GST).
