Madone vs. Going Global rematch likely in Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. - Madone needed a career-best effort to end Going Global’s five-race winning streak in a thrilling running of the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Saturday.

With a wide rally, Madone held off a determined Going Global to win by a half-length for her fourth career stakes win.

The rematch will occur on Aug. 21 in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf, a $300,000 race that the fillies’ respective trainers were looking forward to on Sunday morning.

Madone, owned by Kaleem Shah, won the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 1 in her 2021 debut, but finished sixth behind Going Global in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on May 22.

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“I think she just bounced,” trainer Simon Callaghan said.

Madone was very sharp in the San Clemente, winning for the fifth time in six career starts at a mile.

“We might have gotten first run, but she had to make a wide move,” Callaghan said.

There were a few anxious moments for Callaghan in early stretch as he watched Going Global close quickly on the inside.

“I know how talented that filly is,” Callaghan said.

Going Global won her final start in Ireland last November and was unbeaten in four starts in turf stakes at Santa Anita from mid-February to late May. The San Clemente was her first start at Del Mar.

“She’ll fight another day,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “I think it was a tale of two trips. The other mare had that nice outside run. That’s turf racing.”

Callaghan was already in the midst of a fine afternoon when Madone won the $202,500 San Clemente. Earlier on the program, the 3-year-old filly Sea Dreamer was an easy winner of a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs for fillies and mares by 9 1/2 lengths under Flavien Prat. Sea Dreamer, who had her second start Saturday, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

Callaghan rates Sea Dreamer as a long-term candidate for the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Harvest Moon, a 4-year-old filly who won two stakes for Callaghan last year, has resumed training after an early spring break. Harvest Moon was third by 11 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 24 in her most recent start.

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“She’s galloping,” Callaghan said. “We’ll get her on a breeze pattern pretty soon.”

Last fall, Harvest Moon won the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita and was later fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland. Callaghan said the $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 2 could be Harvest Moon’s next start.