Charmaine's Mia outlasts Dogtag in Royal Heroine

ARCADIA, Calif. - Charmaine’s Mia responded to a challenge from an unlucky rival to win her third consecutive graded stakes of 2021 in Saturday’s Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Charmaine’s Mia led by two lengths with a furlong remaining and won by a half-length over Dogtag, who had to be checked on the turn. Dogtag closed from sixth in the final quarter-mile and was closing steadily in the final strides.

“She felt that horse coming,” Prat said of Charmaine’s Mia. “That was nice.”

For Prat, the $201,500 Royal Heroine Stakes was his fourth stakes win on Saturday’s 12-race program, which included six stakes.

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Charmaine’s Mia ($3.20) was timed in 1:33.76 and got a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Dogtag (6-1) finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 5-1 Warren’s Showtime. The Royal Heroine was Dogtag’s first start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Del Mar last August.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in the preceding race on Rock Your World, Dogtag raced on the inside for the first half-mile in a stalking position. Approaching the turn, Rispoli was forced to check Dogtag. She recovered quickly to threaten Charmaine’s Mia.

“I didn’t have room,” Rispoli said. “She ran awesome. The winner is a classy filly.”

Tapwater finished fourth, followed by Laura’s Light, Raymundos Secret, Rideforthecause and Ippodamia’s Girl.

Charmaine’s Mia set an early pace of 22.59 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 46.02 for a half-mile.

Charmaine’s Mia, a 5-year-old mare by The Factor, is unbeaten since being acquired privately by Agave Racing Stable and Rocking Robin Racing Stables.

Trained by Phil D’Amato since late 2020, Charmaine’s Mia won her debut for the stable in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes at six furlongs on turf on Jan. 9 and followed with a win in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 20.