Going Global's long-term goal is the American Oaks
In early spring, after Going Global had won two stakes in her first two starts in the country, trainer Phil D’Amato set a summer goal of winning the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks with the Irish-bred filly.
Going Global won her fifth stakes of the year as the 7-5 favorite in the $302,000 Del Mar Oaks on Saturday, closing from fifth of nine to win by a length.
The next long-term goal is the Grade 1 American Oaks, a $300,000 race at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. How Going Global is campaigned in the next four months is not as clear as her late spring and early summer schedule.
Going Global, who races for the partnership of Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano, had a series of races at Santa Anita and Del Mar leading to the Del Mar Oaks. For the autumn, D’Amato is considering the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, a $500,000 race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 26. Another option is the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes, a $300,000 race for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6.
Going Global has yet to race outside of her age group.
“The Queen Elizabeth would be a good possibility unless it’s coming up extremely tough or the conditions were too testing,” D’Amato said. “Then maybe you try the Goldikova.”
Going Global is likely to be raced less frequently through the end of the year compared to a six-race campaign from mid-February through Saturday.
“That’s a lot of races in a little more than half a year,” D’Amato said.
Going Global’s only loss to date this year was a second to Madone in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 24. In the Del Mar Oaks, Madone closed from eighth in a field of nine to finish fifth, beaten 3 3/4 lengths.
“She was running at the end,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “She needed a strong pace up front. She’s a big filly and it takes a while to get into top stride.”