Medoro overcomes wide trip to win Blue Norther Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – For a filly undefeated after two starts, Medoro has impressed jockey Antonio Fresu with the poise she showed by winning a maiden race on Dec. 1 at Del Mar and again in her stakes debut in the $102,000 Blue Norther Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita.

Medoro overcame trouble to record a 13-1 upset in a five-furlong race on turf at Del Mar under Fresu. In the Blue Norther for 2-year-old fillies, Medoro had a wide trip, much to Fresu’s disliking, and closed from sixth to record a narrow win as the favorite.

“I would say she saved me,” Fresu said.

“When the gate opened, I was in a little trouble. I wanted to be third or fourth. I was quite wide on the first turn. I was trying to hold her there and save some energy.”

Medoro continued wide on the backstretch and launched a rally when urged by Fresu.

“At the quarter pole, I asked her and she flew home,” he said.

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Medoro ($6.80) ran a mile on turf in 1:35.80, finishing a neck in front of 8-1 Chatalas, who was second early and led in the stretch. Medoro earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

Mo Fox Givin (7-2) closed with a wide rally from eighth in a field of nine to finish third, followed by Zona Verde, Antifona, April Vintage, Highlands, Hattie T, and Blue Oasis.

Zona Verde, winner of the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes on Dec. 2 at Del Mar, closed from last after jockey Juan Hernandez lost his right iron for a few strides at the start.

The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run, focusing on whether Mo Fox Givin drifted in and affected Zona Verde, but did not change the order of finish.

The Blue Norther was the turf stakes debut for Chatalas, who won the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes on Oct. 7 and was later ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita and third in the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes on Dec. 9 at Los Alamitos.

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Medoro, by Honor Code, has earned $96,600 from her two wins.

The style of the win in the Blue Norther left Fresu with high expectations for Medoro’s 3-year-old season in 2024.

“The other horses [in the race] were more professional,” he said. “She had only one race. I like the way she galloped out.”

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