Merneith finds first graded-stakes victory in Santa Monica

ARCADIA, Calif. - The cheering began the moment Merneith won Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita.

Jockey Edwin Maldonado let loose with a full-throated cheer, audible through the empty stands, as he galloped out aboard the surprise winner. Don’t worry, folks. Maldonado was socially distanced from the other eight rivals in the race. Merneith ($20.40) won by 2 1/4 lengths.

The win gave Merneith her first graded stakes win in her third attempt and was part of a sweep of the first three positions by fillies and mares trained by Bob Baffert. Golden Principal (5-1) and Qahira (3-1) were second and third.

The $202,000 Santa Monica Stakes was Maldonado’s first career win for Baffert, with his 12th career mount for the trainer.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

“One of my personal dreams was to win a race for Bob, whether it was a $20,000 race or a $200,000 race,” Maldonado said as he walked back to the jockey’s room.

“It took awhile.”

Maldonado rode Merneith for the first time in the Santa Monica. Starting from the inside post position, Maldonado had Merneith away well, disputing the early pace with Golden Principal through an opening quarter-mile in 22.64 seconds. Merneith led by a head over Golden Principal after a half-mile in 45.34 seconds.

Turning into the stretch, Merneith began to widen her advantage, holding a two-length lead with a furlong remaining. Merneith was timed in 1:22.28 and earned a career-best Beyer Figure of 97.

“I had a lot of horse,” Maldonado said. “I didn’t ask her until I turned for home. I didn’t know how she would react when they came next to her.”

Golden Principal, who was second in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Dec. 26, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Qahira, the winner of the minor Kalookan Queen Stakes on Jan. 21.

Biddy Duke, third in the Kalookan Queen, finished fourth, followed by Amuse, Proud Emma, Hard Not to Love, Fair Maiden, and Secret Keeper.

Hard Not to Love was the 2-1 favorite and had won the Santa Monica Stakes in 2020. Juan Hernandez rode Hard Not to Love for the first time on Saturday and said the 5-year-old mare failed to give a response after racing at the back of the field to early stretch. Hernandez moved Hard Not to Love wide in the stretch, but the tactic made little difference.

“She didn’t fire at all,” Hernandez said. “When I moved outside, she felt good, but she didn’t have the attention. It wasn’t her day today.”

Fair Maiden, who won the La Brea Stakes in December, stalked the pace on the inside to early stretch before fading from contention.

Merneith, by American Pharoah, race for Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. Purchased for $600,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale,

Merneith has won 4 of 10 starts and has earned $357,900.

Merneith won the $125,000 Fort Springs Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs at Keeneland on Nov. 7 for her first stakes win, and was third in the La Brea Stakes.