Harvest Moon shines bright in Torrey Pines Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. - Harvest Moon, benefiting from a perfect trip, won her stakes debut and third consecutive start in Saturday’s Grade 3 Torrey Pines for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Harvest Moon ($5) stalked Secret Keeper and Provocation for the first six furlongs. Sent off favored, Harvest Moon closed from third of six to take the lead in the final furlong, pulling clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths over a game Secret Keeper, the 2-1 second choice.

“We had a good trip,” Prat said. “She was relaxed and she really dug in down the lane.

“It was nice I could get her off the pace.”

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Harvest Moon was timed in 1:36.87 after chasing an early pace of 22.13 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.93 for a half-mile. Harvest Moon earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Secret Keeper, who also had her stakes debut in the $100,500 Torrey Pines, finished 5 1/4 lengths clear of 24-1 Paige Anne. Harvest Moon and Paige Anne are trained by Simon Callaghan.

Aurelia Garland finished fourth, followed by Provocation and Sheza Girly Girl in a field of six. Merneith, who was third in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks in June, was scratched late in the week.

Harvest Moon, by Uncle Mo, was bred by Alice Bamford and is co-owned by Bamford and Michael Tabor. Harvest Moon has won 3 of 4 starts and has earned $120,720.

Harvest Moon won her second start in a maiden special weight race at Los Alamitos on July 3 and a first-condition optional claimer here on July 27. Those races were also at a mile with Prat aboard.