Awkward start can't stop Madame Stripes in Megahertz

ARCADIA, Calif. – A bad start propelled Madame Stripes to a first-ever graded stakes win in Monday’s Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes for fillies and mares on turf at Santa Anita.

Madame Stripes hopped in the air after the start and was fifth in a field of seven for the first half-mile. Guided by jockey Kent Desormeaux, Madame Stripes saved ground on the turn and rallied through the stretch to win the $100,690 Megahertz Stakes at a mile by 1 1/4 lengths over Insta Erma, the even-money favorite.

The start drew mixed reaction from trainer Neil Drysdale.

“When she jumped like that, it relaxed her at the back,” Drysdale said. “At the beginning, I thought, uh-oh.”

The second choice in the betting, Madame Stripes ($9) was timed in 1:34.24.

Insta Erma finished three-quarters of a length in front of Thundering Sky, the 4-1 third choice Insta Erma, third in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 26, was well-placed throughout. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Insta Erma took the lead from pacesetter Thundering Sky on the turn, but could not hold off the winner.

“Hindsight is 20-20, but it looks like he moved a little prematurely,” trainer Richard Baltas said of Nakatani’s ride.

“Desormeaux had a perfect trip. We worried about the speed. We went after them early and got caught.”

Laseen closed well to finish fourth, followed by Chocolate Coated, Lady Valeur, and Do the Dance.

Drysdale suggested Madame Stripes will be kept to one-mile stakes on turf, with the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares on Feb. 17 as an immediate objective.

With one exception, Madame Stripes had good form in the second half of 2017.

Owned by Gainesway Stable, the 6-year-old Madame Stripes won the restricted Osunitas Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 21 and was later third in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes there on Sept. 2.

At the Santa Anita autumn meeting, Madame Stripes finished a nose behind Insta Erma in the restricted Swingtime Stakes. In the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 4, Madame Stripes finished 11th after a wide trip.

She was third in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes on dirt at Los Alamitos last month, her only start on that surface last year.

An Argentine-bred by the Candy Stripes stallion Equal Stripes, Madame Stripes has won 4 of 17 starts and earned $313,218. She was second in a Group 1 race in Argentina in 2015.