Madone avoids trouble to win Senorita Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Madone maintained her perfect record in California with a ground-saving victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Senorita Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita, avoiding the trouble that plagued some runners to her outside in the stretch.

In her first start of the year, Madone finished a length in front of Golden, who was disqualified from second and placed sixth for interfering with 6-1 Javanica in the stretch of the one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies.

Closing Remarks, the 9-5 favorite, was promoted from second to third, followed in the revised order of finish by Sweetest Angel, Majestic Steps, Javanica, Golden, Stressed, Sensible Cat, Tetragonal, and Nimbostratus. The stewards reviewed video for 10 minutes before announcing the disqualification.

Madone ($7.80) was timed in 1:35.17 and was ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, who swept the two stakes on Saturday’s program. Hernandez replaced Flavien Prat on Madone. Prat, the leading rider at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, rode Madone in 2020. Prat won three graded stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday and was third in the Kentucky Derby on Hot Rod Charlie.

Madone earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 78.

Hernandez had Madone in a stalking position on the inside for the first six furlongs, racing behind Stressed and Nimbostratus, who each led in the first half-mile. Hernandez moved Madone outside of Stressed in early stretch and took the lead in the final furlong.

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“She put herself in a good spot,” Hernandez said. “I saved ground. I was loaded. I was waiting for some space to open.”

Closing Remarks had a rough trip, clipping heels with a rival in the initial strides of the $102,500 race.

“I was lucky to stay on,” jockey Victor Espinoza said.

Madone has won 4 of 5 starts and earned $211,300 for owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Simon Callaghan.

By Vancouver, Madone won her first three starts, a span that included the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf last September and the Surfer Girl Stakes here last October. Madone finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland last November and underwent surgery to have a bone chip removed from an ankle later that month.