Going Global will remain in California, trainer D'Amato says

On Sunday, a day after Going Global won her fourth consecutive stakes of 2021 in the Grade 3 Honeymoon for 3-year-old fillies, a few of trainer Phil D’Amato’s colleagues in the Santa Anita stables independently volunteered that Going Global would be well placed in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at Belmont Park on July 10.

Presented with their opinions, D’Amato was not accepting of their offer.

“We have a game plan that we mapped out,” D’Amato said with a laugh.

Going Global is staying in California for the foreseeable future, with the goal of two starts on turf at the Del Mar summer meeting – the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile on July 24, and the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 21. More prominent races could be considered in the fall.

“The Del Mar Oaks makes sense,” D’Amato said.

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The $300,000 Del Mar Oaks often draws runners from other states, or even shippers from Europe. Judging from Going Global’s comprehensive win in the Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf, it may take a new runner in the division to challenge the talented Irish-bred.

Owned by the partnership of Michael Dubb, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano, Going Global has won 5 of 8 starts and has earned $248,792. In the $101,000 Honeymoon Stakes, Going Global closed from well off the pace to win by 4 3/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite.

“She came out of her race in good shape,” D’Amato said.

All four of Going Global’s wins this year have been on turf.

Going Global won the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes at six furlongs in February, the $100,500 China Doll Stakes at a mile on March 6, and the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on April 3.

The campaign so far has led D’Amato to have preliminary thoughts about the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6 against what will be an international field.

“Maybe she can fit with older horses at Del Mar in November,” he said.

The San Clemente field is likely to include Tetragonal, who won an allowance race on turf on Saturday, and Madone, who finished a disappointing sixth as the 2-1 second choice in the Honeymoon.

Tetragonal was ninth behind Madone in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on May 1, but gave a much brighter performance on Saturday, stalking the pace under leading rider Flavien Prat before winning by a half-length.

“It was a slow pace,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “I was happy we were up close. It was a great ride from Prat.”

Tetragonal was second in the Surfer Girl Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Santa Anita last October, but missed a scheduled start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland last November because of injury.

Madone finished sixth, beaten more than 10 lengths, in the Honeymoon, after racing in fourth behind a quick pace through the first half-mile.

Trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday that he wished Madone had been farther back in the field in the first half of the race.

“She was too close to a hot pace,” Callaghan said.

The Senorita was Madone’s first start of 2021, and first race since an eighth in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.