by Jim Downey Circle of trust joined the ranks of graded stakes winners when she rallied to win the $101,000 Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) on June 1 at Santa Anita Park.
The 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies features a field of seven. Sea dancer and rider Jeremy Laprida was aggressive early on, opening up a two-stage lead by setting paces of: 23.21, :47.04 and 1:11.50.
Circle of Trust and jockey Antonio Fresu were fifth, about three lengths off the lead after six furlongs. With Fresu asking Alliance rags Not content to run the far turn, she banked four wide corners as she gained the lead. The top three after six furlongs all faded down the lane as Circle of Trust led a parade of those closer to the top four positions.
Circle of Trust, trained by Phil D’Amato, came out on top cherry blossom equal to 1 1/4 length.
“I think she won impressively,” Fresu said.
Faith understood and jockey Mike Smith, who encountered some traffic through the far turn into the stretch, rallied to finish third, a further 1 3/4 lengths back. The winner’s time in the 1 1/8 miles on hard turf was 1:48.40. She paid $8.20
The circle of trust is out of bounds faucet Mare Open House, half-sisters, won first place in class 1 Western willpower . The winner was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West.
Union Rags, winner of the 2012 Belmont Stakes (G1), stands at Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky. His 2024 study fee is $15,000.
Videotapes: Honeymoon S. (G3T)
