Jockey Herrera has first graded stakes win as Watchtower takes Autumn Miss
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Watchtower caught the strongly favored Medoro in the last stride of Sunday’s Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita to give jockey Diego Herrera his first graded stakes win.
The 20-year-old Herrera, who began riding in 2021, performed like a veteran in guiding Watchtower to a nose win in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.
Watchtower had her stakes debut in the $102,500 Autumn Miss Stakes for owners Abbondanza Racing, Michael Iavarone and Omar Aldabbagh and trainer Richard Baltas.
On the turn, Watchtower was eighth of 10 when Herrera opted to guide the filly outside of rivals, in pursuit of Medoro, who was close to the front.
“I was trying to pick the best horses to follow,” Herrera said. “There was a couple that were stopping. I wanted a clear path.
“I got lucky and the hole opened.”
Watchtower ($19.80) was timed in 1:34.35 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 89. Medoro (4-5) finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 5-1 Zona Verde. The loss stunned jockey Antonio Fresu, who rode Medoro.
“I don’t know where she came from,” Fresu said of Watchtower. “Mine was still running at the wire. She has that stride and she kept going. She wasn’t getting tired.”
Medoro closed from fourth with a wide move to take the lead in early stretch.
Sneaker finished fourth, followed by Asean, Sea Dancer, Tiaraqueen, Tahini, Wine On Tap and Circle of Trust.
Wine On Tap (24-1) led by as many as seven lengths on the backstretch, through a half-mile fraction in a quick 45.59 seconds, and began to fade on the turn.
Watchtower has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $134,860.
Herrera has ridden Watchtower in her last three starts.
“He did a good job of getting her to relax,” Baltas said of Herrera.
Watchtower won consecutive starts in a maiden race and an allowance race at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park in January and April when trained by Chad Brown and raced by owner and breeder Peter Brant.
By Demarchelier, Watchtower was purchased for $310,000 at the 2014 Keeneland April horses of racing sale.
For her current owners and Baltas, Watchtower won for the first time in the Autumn Miss Stakes. She was second in allowance races at Del Mar on Sept. 2 and Santa Anita on Sept. 29.
“I think she is getting better,” Baltas said. “She’s kind of a one-run filly.
“I think she has a future. She’s 3. She’s young.”
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