Emboldened surprises in Angels Flight

ARCADIA, Calif. – Emboldened raced near the lead in her first two career starts in the winter.

In her stakes debut in Saturday’s $83,225 Angels Flight Stakes, and first start since February, Emboldened showed a new running style.

Closing from ninth in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies, Emboldened took the lead in the final sixteenth and went on to a surprise 2 1/4-length win in the seven-furlong race.

Emboldened ($30) was the sixth choice in the field and benefited from a quick speed duel. Martin Garcia rode Emboldened for trainer Bob Baffert, who said he was briefly concerned about the jockey’s tactics.

“I give Martin all the credit,” Baffert said. “He saw what they were doing and sat there.”

Emboldened ran seven furlongs in 1:23.59, easily beating 3-2 favorite Moonshine Memories, a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2017. The Angels Flight Stakes was the first start for Moonshine Memories since a seventh as the 2-1 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar last November.

Ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Simon Callaghan, Moonshine Memories raced between fillies in a stalking position on the backstretch and rallied wide in the stretch to finish second, a half-length in front of 39-1 First Dudette, who was part of the speed duel.

“I think she’ll move forward from this,” Callaghan said of Moonshine Memories. “The post was tricky and she was surrounded. Those horse are fit.”

First Dudette, who led by a length with a furlong remaining, contributed to early fractions of 22.26 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.97 for a half-mile. Garcia had Emboldened more than eight lengths off the pace in the first quarter-mile.

Last winter, Emboldened led throughout a maiden race at six furlongs in her debut on Jan. 5, and finished third, after disputing the pace, in an allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option at 6 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 9.

Joe Talamo rode Emboldened in those races. Garcia was aboard for the first time on Saturday.

“She doesn’t like to be rushed,” Garcia said. “When I asked her to go, she took off. I was way wide.”

Thirteen Squared, who was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on April 7, finished fourth under Talamo. True Royalty finished fifth, followed by Show It N Moe It, Highland Lass, Film Actress, and Surrender Now.

Uppercut, who was third in the Grade 2 Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland last month, did not finish after she was pulled up in the stretch. Jockey Mike Smith said he pulled up Uppercut “to be cautious.” Uppercut was walked back to the stables.

Emboldened, by Elusive Quality, is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, who bred the filly in Kentucky. Emboldened has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $99,120.

Emboldened got an 84 Beyer Speed Figure for Saturday's victory.