Liguria, Prat winning combo again in Jimmy Durante

DEL MAR, Calif. - The partnership between the 2-year-old filly Liguria and jockey Flavien Prat began successfully in October in New York and reached a new level of success in California on Saturday.

Liguria rallied from sixth in a field of 12 to win her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar.

Prat, who rode in New York for several months earlier this year, was aboard Liguria for a win in a maiden special weight race at the Belmont at Aqueduct meeting on Oct. 22.

In the Durante Stakes, Prat used the experience gained from that win to urge Liguria to the front with a wide rally.

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“In her previous race, she showed a good turn of foot,” Prat said. “I expected her to run a good race.”

Liguria ($4.80) was fifth while racing two-wide with three furlongs remaining. Prat moved Liguria closer to the front with a four-wide move entering the stretch.

“As soon as I tipped her out and squeezed on her, she responded right away,” he said.

Sent off favored, Liguria finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 20-1 Decorated My Life, an Irish-bred filly who had her American debut in the $103,500 Durante. Liguria was timed in 1:36.16 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 71, which equals her career-best.

Decorated My Life finished a nose in front of 6-1 Sell the Dream, who has finished second or third in four stakes this year.

Ami Please finished fourth, followed by Ragtime Rose, Thebestisyettobe, Pallotta Sisters, Showgirl Lynne B, Quickly Park It, Bizzy Gal, Jordan and Lollipop Gumdrop.

Ami Please, second in the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 29, set a solid pace of 22.52 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.33 for a half-mile and was beaten three lengths.

Liguria, owned by Alpha Delta Stable and trained by Chad Brown, finished a well-beaten second in a maiden special weight race at a mile on turf in her debut at Monmouth Park on Sept. 11. She has not lost since.

By War Front, Liguria has earned $123,250 in her three starts. The filly was purchased for $275,000 as a yearling.

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