The Oct. 27 $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park proved to be a race of firsts.
It was the primary stakes race—and win—for Watchtower , the primary graded stakes win for her sire Demarchelier , and the primary graded stakes win for jockey Diego Herrera.
After late rallies got here up brief her final two occasions out, Watchtower chased down favored Medoro to edge her by a nostril on the wire within the one-mile contest for 3-year-old fillies.
“She is getting higher,” stated coach Richard Baltas. “With that being stated, she bought an excellent setup. Diego gave her an excellent experience. She’s sort of a one-paced filly. I informed him, ‘Do not rush her.’ She broke rather well, however he did an amazing job getting her to calm down. I feel final time (in a Sept. 29 allowance non-obligatory claimer) she was a bit of too shut as a result of there wasn’t a lot pace in there. You may’t actually change her fashion. She tries actually arduous. She has a whole lot of grit. I feel she has a future.”
Watchtower stopped the clock in 1:34.35.
Paying $19.80 for a $2 win ticket, Watchtower and Herrera have been content material hanging within the pack, which early on wasn’t very shut. Wine On Faucet shot out of the beginning gate and finally opened up an eight-length lead. She held the ahead place till fading as she approached the stretch.
As Wine On Faucet was swallowed up by the remainder of the sector, Tahini and Sneaker jockeyed for the lead. However Medoro charged up the center to take management. Herrera swung to the skin with Watchtower monitoring down her rival and catching her on the finish.
“It is fairly thrilling, I get up each morning and work arduous,” Herrera stated of his first graded stakes triumph. “These are the moments I dreamt about as a bit of child and now I get to stay them so I am excited.”
Medoro was adopted by Zona Verde in third and Sneaker in fourth.
Owned by Abbondanza Racing, Omar Aldabbagh, and Michael Iavarone, Watchtower improves to 3-2-0 from 5 begins this 12 months with $124,360 in earnings. For her profession, the darkish brown filly is 3-2-1 from seven begins and $134,860 in earnings.
Abbondanza Racing’s Bing Bush, Jr. stated, “Completely unbelievable, for Medallion racing, Omar Aldabbagh, our companions on Watchtower and for Diego successful such an amazing race together with her. Ritchie has accomplished only a nice job together with her. This time we had a bit of tempo and we have been in a position to shut into it and it labored out completely. Diego rode an incredible race. It couldn’t have been extra thrilling. … We’re simply over the moon.”
She was offered to Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock, agent, for $310,000 out of the ELiTE consignment on the 2024 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale. Watchtower was bred by White Birch Farm.
Demarchelier stood this 12 months at Claiborne Farm close to Paris, Ky., for $7,500.
