ARCADIA, Calif. - After an eventful campaign last fall, the 3-year-old filly Circle of Trust has changed for the better this spring. Circle of Trust won a maiden race on March 15, and finished third in her first stakes appearance of 2024 in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita on April 20 despite encountering some trouble. In Saturday’s Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, Circle of Trust had a clean trip en route to a win by 1 1/4 lengths. The manner of the win left jockey Antonio Fresu eager to see what Circle of Trust can accomplish this spring. “At the three-eighths pole, I put her on the outside to give a clear run,” he said. “She responded so well. “I like the way she galloped out. I think she had plenty left.” :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports The third choice in a field of seven, Circle of Trust ($8.20) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.40 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 84. Closing from fourth on the backstretch, Circle of Trust reached the front with more than a furlong remaining. Sakura Blossom, the longest shot in the field at 28-1, closed from last to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of an unlucky Faith Understood, the 2-1 favorite. Faith Understood, ridden by Mike Smith, raced in traffic through the final quarter-mile. “I had nowhere to go,” Smith said. “I’m not saying I would have beaten them, but I would have liked to have had the chance.” Pink Whitney finished fourth, followed by Visually, Sea Dancer, and Shiloh’s Mistress. Fresu rode Circle of Trust for the first time in the $101,000 Honeymoon. Flavien Prat rode Circle of Trust on March 15 and was replaced by Kazushi Kimura for the Providencia. Circle of Trust was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Providencia when she raced in traffic early in the race at 1 1/8 miles. Circle of Trust has won 2 of 7 starts and earned $119,560 for owner Jim Downey and trainer Phil D’Amato, but has finished first three times. Last October, Circle of Trust won a maiden race at a mile on turf at Santa Anita, but was disqualified and placed last of eight for causing interference. In her final start of 2023, Circle of Trust finished eighth of 10 in her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar last December, bumping with a rival in early stretch before losing running room closer to the finish. Circle of Trust’s outing in the Honeymoon went much better. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.