Fatale Bere notches first Grade 1 in Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. – The day didn’t start off so well for trainer Leonard Powell, who was forced Saturday morning to scratch Beach View from the featured Pacific Classic owing to a minor but ill-timed injury, but he got a terrific consolation prize when his filly Fatale Bere won the day’s secondary feature, the $302,425 Del Mar Oaks, giving Fatale Bere the first Grade 1 victory of her career.

“To win a Grade 1 with a filly is special because of the value,” Powell said in the winner’s circle. “We got her a year ago, so to win a Grade 1 is very special.”

Fatale Bere began her career in France, and since arriving in Powell’s barn she has raced exclusively in stakes, with her biggest victory coming in the Grade 3 Providencia in April at Santa Anita.

On Saturday, Fatale Bere ($16) rallied from eighth in the field of 12 3-year-old fillies and wore down 9-5 favorite Ollie’s Candy in the shadow of the wire to win by a neck under Kent Desormeaux.

It was two lengths farther back to Californiagoldrush in third, then came, in order, Ms Bad Behavior, Colonia, Paved, Movie Moment, Fool’s Paradise, Ms Peintour, So Hi Society, Animosity, and Streetwithnoname.

Animosity, the early pacesetter, grazed the rail nearing the three-eighths pole when changing leads and took an awkward step, but she appeared none the worse after the race.

“She came back fine,” said her rider, Tyler Gaffalione, who said Animosity “never got back into it” after the incident.

Fatale Bere, by contrast, got the trip she covets.

“The only instruction I gave Kent is she has to have cover,” Powell said. “If she doesn’t get cover, she gets rank and pulls and sometimes the saddle slips. If you get cover, she’s good enough to do the job.”

Fatale Bere completed 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:48.14.

Fatale Bere, a daughter of Pedro the Great, was purchased by Powell on behalf of a partnership after watching videos of her races in France.

“She had a good turn of foot,” he recalled. “And she points her ears forward when she’s winning, which I like.”

Fatale Bere is now owned by Powell’s wife, Mathilde, as well as Mark Mathiesen, Benowitz Family Trust, and Head of Plains Partners.

“These owners have been very special sticking with me,” Powell said.

The Del Mar Oaks win was the fifth win in 10 starts for Fatale Bere. She earned $180,000 to bring her career total to $422,964, but the Grade 1 score makes her residual value much higher.