Cairo Memories sets sights on Belmont Oaks
ARCADIA, Calif. – Cairo Memories beat one filly when she finished seventh in her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt on March 6 at Santa Anita.
She will not be racing on that surface again anytime soon.
Cairo Memories won the second stakes of her career in Saturday’s Grade 3 Providencia at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The long-range goal for owners David Bernsen and Schroeder Farms and trainer Bob Hess Jr. is the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, a $700,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf July 9 at Belmont Park.
The Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 29 at Santa Anita is an intermediary goal, Hess said Sunday.
“That race is a nice segue way to see if she’s good enough to go to Belmont,” he said.
“She should naturally improve, and the added distance won’t hurt her.”
Cairo Memories earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90 in the Providencia. Ridden by Mike Smith, Cairo Memories led throughout and pulled away to win by 4 1/2 lengths for her first graded stakes win.
“Mike did a good job of relaxing her,” Hess said.