Lady Espionage keeps it all in the (extended) family
ARCADIA, Calif. – The win by Lady Espionage in a maiden race on turf at Santa Anita on Thursday was one for the family – and former family.
Lady Espionage is trained by Michele Dollase and was ridden by her ex-husband, Corey Nakatani. Their son Matt, 25, is Corey’s agent and booked the mount.
“He’s the mediator,” Michele Dollase said.
Nakatani rode Lady Espionage in her two previous starts, but Thursday’s race was the first winner Nakatani has ridden for his ex-wife.
Corey and Michele were married for 14 years but have been divorced for nearly 10 years. Michele Dollase, the daughter of the late trainer Wally Dollase, trains a few horses at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County and cares for layups and young horses for a variety of Santa Anita-based trainers.
The 3-year-old Lady Espionage is owned by Jim Mann, whose father had horses with Wally Dollase, Michele said. Lady Espionage, by Lucky Pulpit, was bred by Mann. Her dam, Mme. Espionage, was used as a barrel racer at one time, Michele Dollase said.
Mme. Espionage won 2 of 4 starts and was eighth in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes in 2004. Lady Espionage is Mme. Espionage’s first foal.
“I have a 2-year-old full brother who is really nice,” she said.