Godolphin’s Tarifa could not have a grade 1 win to her credit score, however she absolutely displayed a top-level quantity of coronary heart in posting her third grade 2 triumph of the 12 months.
The homebred daughter of the late Bernardini set the early tempo within the $242,500 Mom Goose Stakes (G2) after which fended off a decided bid by the 4-5 favourite Gun Track to prevail by a head within the 1 1/8-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies Oct. 26 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
“It was a giant effort. We’re pleased with Tarifa,” coach Brad Cox stated.
The end flipped the results of the Sept. 21 $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1), when Gun Track was second by a neck to possible 3-year-old filly champ Thorpedo Anna and Tarifa was one other 3 1/2 lengths again in third.
“I believed she ran a extremely good race within the Cotillion final time. Clearly we needed to take care of Gun Track at the moment, however (Tarifa) was very robust down the lane and (successful jockey Flavien Prat) did an excellent job. I need to congratulate the Godolphin group. I am pleased with the best way she stepped up the final eighth of a mile and completed the job,” Cox stated.
The win was the fourth in seven 2024 begins for the daughter of the Superior Once more mare Kite Seaside. It tacked one other dose of graded stakes laurels to a résumé that additionally contains wins earlier this 12 months within the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) and Truthful Grounds Oaks (G2) that despatched her off at 5-1 odds within the Kentucky Oaks (G1), when she by no means threatened and completed ninth in a uncommon uninteresting efficiency.
Up subsequent? A 4-year-old marketing campaign with excessive hopes for turning into a grade 1 winner.
“This was her final alternative to face straight 3-year-olds. She’s had an awesome 3-year-old season. I believe the purpose can be in some unspecified time in the future to win a grade 1 together with her and we’re hoping she’ll get that chance subsequent 12 months as a 4-year-old,” Cox stated.
In a subject decreased to 5 by three scratches, Prat put Tarifa on the lead shortly after the break, one thing uncommon for a filly who had usually been third or fourth early on. They led by fractions of :24.08 and :48.86 from the rail with Gun Track in closest pursuit. Turning for house, Gun Track and John Velazquez took goal on the chief within the stretch and caught a head in entrance on the eighth pole.
However Tarifa didn’t again down from the problem and valiantly fought again to win by a head in 1:50.78 because the 2-1 ($6.10) second selection.
“On the high of the lane it regarded like I used to be crushed, however she confirmed some grit,” Prat stated. “It felt like she did not need to surrender.”
Together with the slender loss to Thorpedo Anna, R. Lee Lewis’ grade 2-winning Gun Track closed out her 3-year-old marketing campaign with three wins and 4 seconds in 9 begins for coach Mark Hennig.
“It regarded like she was going to edge away within the ultimate eighth however then perhaps she reacted to (the Cotillion),” Hennig stated concerning the daughter of Gun Runner . “Possibly she got here again somewhat fast, however I’m pleased with her. She had a helluva 12 months. Everyone’s performed an awesome job together with her. We’ll give her somewhat break and are available again together with her subsequent 12 months.”
Three Chimneys Farm’s Fairly Ana , a homebred High quality Highway filly, turned in a robust effort to complete a fast-closing third, a head behind Gun Track, after being pinched again to final on the break.
– Further reporting by Molly Rollins
