Cairo Memories pulls clear of Island of Love in Honeymoon Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - The Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday was close in the stretch.

Well, at least briefly.

Cairo Memories and Island of Love were first and second, separated by head with a furlong remaining.

There was less suspense at the finish. Cairo Memories ($3) pulled clear from Island of Love to win the $100,500 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by 1 1/4 lengths for her second consecutive stakes win and the third of her career.

Mike Smith rode Cairo Memories.

“As soon as the competition comes to her, she just jumps right back in the bridle, which she did,” Smith said. “It gave me the confidence to know that she was going to run down to the wire.”

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Cairo Memories ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.67 after stalking the pace to the turn. Cairo Memories earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

“Mike did a good job of getting her to relax,” winning trainer Bob Hess Jr. said.

Sterling Crest (11-1) set a solid early pace of 23.30 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.29 for a half-mile. Cairo Memories trailed by 2 1/2 lengths on the backstretch and closed steadily to reach contention. She was joined on the turn by 7-2 Island of Love, who had won the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf on May 7.

Island of Love, who was ridden by Juan Hernandez, was unable to keep pace in the final furlong, but held second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of 5-1 Ballet Dancing.

“I liked our trip,” said Phil D’Amato, who trains Island of Love. “Juan gave her a nice ride. She flattened out ever so slightly late. She got outrun by a nice filly.”

Sterling Crest, Ellamira, and Gold Dragon Queen completed the order of finish.

Cairo Memories will be considered for the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Belmont Park on July 9, Hess said. Owned by Schroeder Farms and David Bernsen, Cairo Memories has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $352,500. She won the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf last October and was later ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November and second in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos in December.

Earlier this year, Cairo Memories won the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on April 9.

Island of Love will be considered for the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 23.

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