Medoro improved to 4-for-4 in her young career with another narrow victory in the Providencia (G3) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles on turf Saturday at Santa Anita.
With Antonio Fresu aboard, Medoro settled just behind pacesetter Shiloh’s Mistress after the opening quarter mile and it remained that way through fractions of :24.10, :48.77, and 1:13.51 for six furlongs. Medoro cut into Shiloh’s Mistress on the second turn, put a nose in front at the top of the stretch then outdueled that stubborn rival to the wire to prevail in a photo finish.
“I really like this filly, she’s very tough,” Fresu said. “Today wasn’t an easy spot because she was going a little longer and there was not much speed in the race. I was just trying to get her relaxed and get her into a nice position.
“I was just waiting for the turn to home to ask her to go,” Fresu continued. “She did it, but then she kind of wanted to stay with some company. The other horse was coming to me and she kept fighting to the end. She is just a good filly and she wants to win.”
Trained by Peter Eurton, Medoro’s winning time 1:48.95 on firm turf. Shiloh’s Mistress, a maiden winner on synthetic at Turfway Park for trainer Michael McCarthy, finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Circle of Trust. Pink Whitney was another 2½ lengths back in fourth to complete the superfecta.
This was the third win via photo finish by Medoro, a 3-year-old filly by Honor Code out of the English Channel mare Achira owned by C R K Stable. She won her debut by a head going five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 1 and returned to win the one-mile Blue Norther on turf by a neck Dec. 29 at Santa Anita. Most recently, Medoro made things a little more comfortable when taking the one-mile China Doll on turf by 2 ¼ lengths March 10 at Santa Anita.
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal going a little further because she’s always been a really relaxed sort,” Eurton said. “But in the paddock, she was a little ‘on’ today. That concerned me, and the no pace in the race. I didn’t know how it would play out. It worked out, but it wasn’t easy.”
Medoro, who was bred in Kentucky by Parks Investment Group LLC, paid $2.40 for the win. She has banked $216,600 in lifetime earnings.
More must-reads: