Madone Flies Late in Juvenile Fillies Turf

DEL MAR, CA – Kaleem Shah’s Madone flew between rivals late to get up in time and win Sunday’s $75,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes.

Madone stumbled as she broke from post 2 under Flavien Prat as the 8/5 favorite and found herself near the rear of the field as the field passed under the wire for the first time.

Up front, Super Game led closest chasers Basilia and My Princess Ellie through opening fractions of :24.03, :50.53, and 1:15.38 through the far turn.

Madone tipped off the rail on the backstretch and began advancing around the corner, but she had to tap on the brakes and shift out slightly as she straightened for home.

Finding room in between rivals, Madone improved his position in the stretch and took advantage of new leader Nimbostratus‘ drifting action near the 1/16 pole.

Shooting between Nimbostratus and Sweetest Angel along the rail, Madone hit the front in the late stages and held on to win by a 1/2-length.

The Simon Callaghan trainee completed the firm turf mile route in a final time of 1:39.09.

Nimbostratus crossed a nose ahead of Ivy League but the order of finish was reversed after the stewards disqualified Nimbostratus for impeding Ivy League during his drifting antics.

Sweetest Angel headed Canoodling for fifth, with Inner Beauty just behind them in sixth. Tetragonal, Frazzled, My Princess Ellie, Super Game, and Basilia completed the order of finish.

Madone’s win followed her debut score over this course and distance on July 31, which featured Ivy League again finishing as the runner-up. The daughter of Vancouver, purchased for $125,000 this past March, has now earned $81,300. 

Madone returned $5.20 to win, $3 to place, and $2.40 to show. Ivy League brought back $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show, while Nimbostratus paid $6.60 to show.