Streaking Charmaine’s Mia Leads Gamely

ARCADIA, CA – Phil D’Amato’s streaking Charmaine’s Mia, in search of her fourth consecutive graded stakes win, heads a field of nine fillies and mares 3 and up in Monday’s $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.

To be contested at a mile and 1/8 on turf, the Gamely, originally run at Hollywood Park, will be run for the 58th time on Monday.

The Richard Baltas-trained Going to Vegas and Brendan Walsh’s French-bred La Signare lend considerable depth to the Gamely, which was won last year by Jonathan Wong’s longshot Keeper Ofthe Stars, who will also suit up for this year’s renewal.

A 2 1/2-length winner of the 6-furlong Las Cienegas Stakes (G3) in her first start for D’Amato 3 races back on January 9, Charmaine’s Mia stretched out to victories going a mile on grass in both the Buena Vista Stakes (G2) February 20 and Royal Heroine Stakes (G2) on April 3. Off as the 3/5 favorite in the Royal Heroine, Charmaine’s Mia was in complete gate to wire control, winning by a 1/2-length.

A 5-year-old mare by top sprinter The Factor, Charmaine’s Mia, who had been based at Woodbine Race Course prior to joining D’Amato’s stable late last year, had only been around two turns once prior to winning the Buena Vista in what was her 26th career start.

Now owned by Agave Racing Stable, Medallion Racing, and Rockin Robin Racing Stables, Charmaine’s Mia, who will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Flavien Prat, has earned 3 consecutive Beyer Speed Figures of 99, has an overall mark of 28-7-4-2, and earnings of $472,976.

Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli and a runaway 3 3/4-length winner of the Santa Ana Stakes (G3) at a mile and 1/4 on grass March 27, Going to Vegas appears to be in the best form of her career for Baltas and owners Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse. 

With Rispoli set to ride her back, Going to Vegas, a 4-year-old filly by Goldencents, was claimed for $50k 9 starts back and seeks her second stakes victory in the Gamely. With an overall mark of 18-4-8-2, she has earnings of $283,751.

Third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths over a yielding turf in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1) at Keeneland April 10, 6-year-old La Signare seeks her first graded stakes win since taking the Wonder Again Stakes (G3) at a mile and 1/8 on grass at Belmont Park on June 7, 2018.

Often close but a winner of just 1 out of 13 starts since then, La Signare appears to be a dedicated deep closer that would certainly benefit from a lively pace.

Owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, Tim and Anna Cambron and Bradley Thoroughbreds, La Signare, who will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith, is 17-3-2-4 overall with earnings of $345,576.

Raymundos Secret, Red Lark, Maxim Rate, Stela Star, and Bodhicitta complete the lineup.

Joining the Gamely on the card is the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1), the latter a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” for the FanDuel Mile.