Invader Selenaia romps in Honeymoon

Lightly raced Midwest shipper Selenaia crushed the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita in a sparkling performance that stamps her as a potential star in the 3-year-old filly turf division.

Making only her second start of the season and just the fourth of her career, Selenaia ($7.60) won the mile and one-eighth Honeymoon by three and one-quarter lengths under Joe Bravo. Broadway Girls finished second, betting favorite Paris Secret rallied to third.

Jonathan Thomas trains Selenaia, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables. The three-for-four filly tucked into an ideal trip in the Honeymoon, positioned alone in fourth behind the contested pace set by Fast and Shiny.

Bravo cut Selenaia loose on the far turn, she burst to the lead passing the quarter pole and dominated. Her final time was 1:48.18.

“We’ve seen glimpses of real ability,” Thomas said afterward, “but to go from one-other-than at [Horseshoe Indianapolis] to a graded stake at Santa Anita is a fairly substantial jump.”

Selenaia, an Irish-bred sired by Sea The Moon, was up to the task as second choice in the Honeymoon betting. Thomas said she will return to Kentucky, where Thomas is based, before summer plans are made. Thomas did not rule out a return to California later this summer.

The graded stakes program for 3-year-old turf fillies in California continues July 22 at Del Mar with the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes at one mile, followed by the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at a mile and one-eighth on Aug. 19.

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