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D’Amato’s Granny Budgie Rallies To Take $67,000 Santa Anita Allowance Feature
3/4/2024
D’AMATO’S GRANNY BUDGIE RALLIES TO TAKE $67,000 SANTA ANITA ALLOWANCE FEATURE BY THREE QUARTERS OF A LENGTH, GETS SIX FURLONGS OUT OF TURF CHUTE IN 1:09.67
ARCADIA, CA (March 4, 2024)—Well beaten in her U.S. debut last month, Phil D’Amato’s English-bred Granny Budgie showed marked improvement in Monday’s $67,000 Santa Anita allowance feature as she rallied for a three quarter length victory under Victor Espinoza, getting six furlongs over a turf course upgraded to “firm” in 1:09.67.
With a field of eight sophomore fillies running out of the turf chute, Grannie Budgie appeared a bit green in the early going and mid-way around the far turn, she was fifth, about five lengths off of dueling leaders Elegant and April Vintage.
Turning for home, she switched leads a furlong out and seemed to level inside the sixteenth pole as she drew clear in the four-path, proving best on the day as she comfortably held runner-up She Is Romantic at bay.
An even seventh at 39-1 going about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in the ungraded Sweet Life Stakes Feb. 11, Granny Budgie was off at 9-1 today and paid $20.40, $8.40 and $4.80.
“She needed that last race, it was her first race in this country and I think it tightened her up a lot for this spot today,” said D’Amato, who registered his second turf win on the day and his 18th of the meet, good for third place, three behind Mark Glatt and Doug O’Neill, who each 21 wins. “I like what I saw today and we’ll see what we do distance-wise with her, but maybe we’ll stretch her out a little bit.”
Owned by David Bernsen, LLC, Omar Aldabbagh and Jeffrey Lambert, Grannie Budgie, who had three wins from six starts in England, picked up $40,200 for the win, increasing her earnings to $65,825.
Next to last after the first quarter mile with Frankie Dettori up, She Is Romantic rallied widest of all and finished one length in front of Invincible Molly. Off at 6-1, She is Romantic paid $6.40 and $3.80.
Although she broke slowly from the rail, English-bred Invincible Molly was immediately in contention as she sat third behind Elegant and April Vintage, whom she overhauled in deep stretch and kept to her task when passed by the one-two finishers close-home.
Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Invincible Molly was off at 4-1 and paid $3.80 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of 9-5 favorite Elegant.
Fractions on the race were 22.21, 44.92 and 57.36.
Live racing resumes on Friday, with first post time for an eight-race card at 12:30 p.m.