Charmaine’s Mia Goes Gate to Wire in Royal Heroine

ARCADIA, CA – Consistent Charmaine’s Mia rung up her third consecutive graded stakes victory of the meeting as she led gate to wire in Saturday’s $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, winning by a 1/2-length.

Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat, Charmaine’s Mia got a mile on turf in 1:33.76.

Breaking from post position 3 , she held a 1-length advantage over Laura’s Light heading into the first turn and was in control thereafter, but was all-out to hold off the late run of Dogtag, who simply ran out of real estate.

A 1-length winner of the Buena Vista Stakes (G2) over the course February 20, Charmaine’s Mia, a 5-year-old mare by top sprinter The Factor, was off as the 3/5 favorite and paid $3.20, $2.40, and $2.10.

Dogtag, trained by Richard Mandella and idle since a fifth August 2 at Del Mar, rallied well and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of consistent Warren’s Showtime. Off at 6/1, Dogtag paid $4.80 and $3.20.

California-bred Warren’s Showtime put in her customary solid stretch run, but was third best under Juan Hernandez. Off at 5/1, she paid $2.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.59, 46.02, 1:09.86 and 1:21.72.

Prat: “For some reason, she’s really good out there (on the lead). She always leaves really fast and she relaxed down the backside and responded when it was time to go. I was hoping she would break like she did and take advantage of it; otherwise, I would probably sit and get her to relax. She’s really brave and she was training really hard.”

Umberto Rispoli, jockey, Dogtag: “She went phenomenal. She was out for a long time; to come back in a good race like that, and the winner, I think she’s a very classy good filly. Flavien broke off and put a good pace on it, and then she give him the kick at the 1/4 pole.”

D’Amato: “Flavien got her out beautifully and he rated her perfectly. Once he shot out of there like a rocket, he made her relax and he had enough to hold off Dogtag.”