Viadera Nails Barnmate Blowout at Wire in Matriarch

DEL MAR, CA – Much as it happened in September’s Noble Damsel Stakes (G3), Juddmonte Farms’ Viadera nailed her Chad Brown barnmate Blowout at the wire to win Sunday’s $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.

Breaking from post 6 under Joel Rosario at 5/1 odds, Viadera settled into a mid-pack stalking position running two-wide outside of Maxim Rate.

Up front, fellow Juddmonte Farms homebred Juliet Foxtrot (trained by Brad Cox) posted opening fractions of :22.62, :45.63, and 1:09.37.

Blowout improved from second in the far turn and struck the front in mid-stretch, but Juliet Foxtrot refused to yield on the rail and Viadera was charging hard on her outside.

Getting her nose down first at the wire, Viadera denied her stablemate’s dreams of victory while completing the firm turf mile route in 1:33.03.

“Whew, I had to work for that one,” Rosario said. “She’s a good filly, a really good filly, but she makes you work. I had to stay after her. She can run, though, there’s no doubt. I’m lucky that Chad Brown gives me an opportunity like this. Grass horses and especially fillies. He’s the best.”

Blowout edged Juliet Foxtrot by a 1/2-length for second, while Sharing was a neck behind them in fourth.

Maxim Rate, the 2/1 favorite Tamahere (the third Brown entry), She’s Our Charm, and Bodhicitta completed the order of finish.

Mucho Unusual scratched.

Viadera’s win was her third straight following the De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga and the Noble Damsel at Belmont Park, improving her record to 13-6-1-1. The British-bred Bated Breath filly, whose career began with 2 seasons spent racing in Ireland, has now earned $391,441.

“This weekend has been amazing,” said assistant trainer Jose Hernandez. “I didn’t know which filly was the winner, but I’m happy it turned out to be Viadera. My boss Chad Brown is an amazing trainer and I just do my best for him. It’s an amazing job for me and I love the horses. In the future, I don’t know when it would be, if Chad wanted to come out here with a string, I’d like that. We like it out here.”

Viadera returned $12.80 to win, $5.80 to place, and $3.80 to show. Blowout brought back $5.60 to place and $3.80 to show, while Juliet Foxtrot paid $4.80 to show.