In a bizarrely run rendition of the $201,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G2T), Dangle the Moon proved finest with a scintillating last-to-first victory Oct. 5 at Santa Anita Park.
“For the primary time in my life I don’t know what to say,” stated CJ Thoroughbreds’ Michael Joyce.
Dangle the Moon, one among 12 fillies the fledgling partnership bought, has now thrown her hat within the ring for probably the most prestigious showdown of all of them within the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly, a $200,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase in 2021, earned her slot within the beginning gate along with her Rodeo Drive win, a Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection: Win and You are In occasion for the Nov. 2 $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).
A 20-1 upset winner of the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) final day out for coach Phil D’Amato, Dangle the Moon was nonetheless comparatively dismissed on the tote board at 9-1 for the Rodeo Drive. Ridden again by Kazushi Kimura, Dangle the Moon trailed the sphere because the race performed out in peculiar vogue up entrance.
“We had the suitable technique for Dangle the Moon,” stated D’Amato. “We deliberate to do the identical factor as we did final time, sit again and include the run. She got here with a monstrous run late. It was a weirdly run race. I assumed my different filly, Fortunate Woman, would sit again there with Dangle the Moon, and she or he ended up being on the lead early.”
Spectacular Del Mar Oaks (G1T) winner Iscreamuscream , blew the primary flip of the 1 1/4-mile occasion, and ultimately misplaced her result in Fortunate Woman . The latter, usually a come-from-the-behind kind, had stolen the benefit and opened up three lengths on the six-furlong marker. Into the lane, nonetheless, the sphere swallowed up the surprising pacesetter as Aspen Grove on the rail and Dangle the Moon on the far exterior stormed to the wire.
Dangle the Moon swept previous a battling Aspen Grove and crossed the end line on high by 1 1/2 lengths in a last time of 1:58.58 over a agency turf course.
“My coronary heart was in my abdomen for a minute as a result of I didn’t understand how this was going to work out,” stated Joyce. “However then she begins that transfer on the flip and also you see her ramping that kick up.
“(Kimura) is aware of precisely what this filly has. And as soon as he begins transferring on her she provides it to him.”
East Coast invader Aspen Grove, transport in for the barn of Jack Sisterson, held runner-up honors by three-quarters of a size over South African import Seaside Bomb .
Favored Iscreamuscream, beforehand undefeated for D’Amato, completed fourth in her debut towards older fillies and mares.
Dangle the Moon ($21.80) picked up her second consecutive graded stakes win and bumped her bankroll to $427,913.
Bred in Kentucky by Repole Secure, Dangle the Moon is one among three winners produced from the Malibu Moon mare Moondance.
