Going Global surges in Honeymoon for fourth straight stakes win

ARCADIA, Calif. - Going Global was a split second ahead of jockey Flavien Prat about three furlongs off the finish of Saturday’s Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

Going Global was running fifth of seven when Prat thought to urge his mount.

“When I asked her to kick, she already did,” Prat said.

Going Global’s rally quickly put her in front by three lengths with a furlong remaining. She continued to pull clear of her rivals, winning the Honeymoon by 4 3/4 lengths for her fourth consecutive stakes win.

Going Global is unbeaten since arriving from Ireland last winter.

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Sent off favored, Going Global ($3.60) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.37 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 92.

The race unfolded in favor of a closer such as Going Global. Pizzazz (21-1) set a quick pace of 22.89 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.66 for a half-mile, leading by as many as two lengths. The chasing pack caught Pizzazz on the turn.

“The pace scenario was good for us,” Prat said. “They went quite quick. She was traveling well.”

Golden (5-1) closed from last to finish second, a half-length in front of 29-1 Midnight Diva. Golden finished second to Madone in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf on May 1, but was disqualified and placed sixth for causing interference in the stretch.

In the $101,000 Honeymoon, Golden had an incident-free race under jockey Umberto Rispoli and finished well.

“She ran on,” Rispoli said. “The other one is a beast. What are you going to do?”

Quattroelle, the winner of the $80,150 Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf in December, finished fourth, followed by Pizzazz, Madone, and Majestic Steps. Madone was the 2-1 second choice, but faded from contention in the final quarter-mile. Madone is a three-time stakes winner.

Going Global, who races for Michael Dubb, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, has won 5 of 8 starts and has earned $248,792.

A 3-year-old Irish-bred filly by Mehmas, Going Global won her final start in Ireland in a seven-furlong handicap against males on the synthetic track at Dundalk Racecourse last November.

For trainer Phil D’Amato and the current owners, Going Global’s four stakes wins, all on turf at Santa Anita, include the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes at six furlongs in February, the $100,500 China Doll Stakes at a mile in March and the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on April 3.

“She’s a filly that keeps improving and I hope it continues,” D’Amato said.