Brave Deb uses patient approach to win Surfer Girl Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - The filly Brave Deb was Patient Deb at a pivotal time in Sunday’s Grade 3, $101,500 Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.
Brave Deb set the pace when she won her first start in a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 5. In the Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf, Brave Deb stalked pacesetter Will Happen through a quick early pace, took the lead in early stretch and won by a length.
Trainer Richard Mandella said in the winner’s circle that he is hopeful the win will lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Oct. 31.
Surfer Girl was ridden by Mirco Demuro, his first stakes win since arriving from Japan in July, and first American graded stakes of his career. Demuro, who has won more than 1,300 races in Japan, rode in the United States earlier this century, often for Mandella.
Brave Deb ($23.80) was timed in 1:35.40 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 64.
Mandella said the filly’s tracking trip was vital on Sunday.
“She could have been fighting for the lead, but they would have gone too fast,” Mandella said. “She showed a lot of class and came on when he asked her.”
Demuro has ridden Brave Deb in both of her wins.
“She has a lot of ability,” Demuro said.
Will Happen, the even-money favorite, led by a half-length over Brave Deb through an opening quarter-mile of 22.26 seconds. The margin was two lengths after a half-mile in 45.76.
Will Happen could not sustain the advantage and faded through the stretch.
Brave Deb led by a length with a furlong remaining. Scratch It, second in the P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27, closed from fifth to finish second to Brave Deb.
“She finished up strong,” jockey Kazushi Kimura said.
Pentle Bay (16-1) finished third, followed by Yours Sincerely, Dreaming of Alys, South Bay, Soaring Angel and Will Happen.
Brave Deb, by Authentic, has earned $108,000. She races for owner and breeder Spendthrift Farm, who had a memorable weekend at Santa Anita. On Saturday, Tamara, owned and bred by the prominent Kentucky farm, won the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes as a prep race for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
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