Giza Goddess has stakes-debut victory in Blue Norther

ARCADIA, Calif. - Giza Goddess won her stakes debut in Sunday’s $78,435 Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita despite losing a shoe along the way and surviving an inquiry into a backstretch incident.

Ridden by Brice Blanc, Giza Goddess ($13.20) closed from third in a field of eight to win by a half-length over 6-1 Colonial Creed. Giza Goddess was timed in 1:34.64 for a mile on turf. She earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

Giza Goddess survived a five-minute inquiry regarding an incident at the three-eighths pole, where she drifted to the inside and briefly crowded Colonial Creed. The stewards did not change the order of finish.

“I’m always nervous in an inquiry,” trainer John Shirreffs said. Brice “said she leaned in a little bit and the other filly wasn’t going anywhere.”

Thriving, a 4-1 chance, closed from sixth to finish third, followed by Lady Prancealot, Courteous, Splashy Kisses, Cedars of Lebanon, and Data Storm Kitty. Lady Prancealot was the 7-5 favorite.

Giza Goddess stalked Courteous through an opening quarter-mile in 23.08 seconds and was in front after a half-mile in 46.54. Giza Goddess led by a length with a furlong remaining.

By Cairo Prince, Giza Goddess has won 2 of 6 starts and earned $92,980. She won a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 1 in her fifth start.

“Beating maidens and beating winners are two different things,” Shirreffs said. “I’m very happy.”

Shirreffs noted after the race that Giza Goddess was without her left hind shoe as she left the winner’s circle. The filly did not sustain any damage to the foot, he said.

Giza Goddess is owned by the partnership of Mercedes Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, Scott Dilworth, Dottie and David Ingordo, and Steve Mooney. Giza Goddess was purchased for $200,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.