Mirage pays $56.20 for upset in China Doll

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mirage, purchased for approximately $592,000 at a sale in London last June, won the first stakes of her career in Saturday’s $81,075 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Alonso Quinonez, Mirage ($56.20) rallied between runners to win the one-mile race by a neck over Lady Valeur. Pacific Heat, the even-money favorite, finished a nose behind Lady Valeur after setting the pace.

Mirage was timed in 1:37.43 on a “good” turf course. She was well off a quick pace of 22.94 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.49 for the first half-mile set by Pacific Heat. Mirage did not pose a threat until the final sixteenth.

The first seven finishers were within a length at the wire.

Mirage races for Fitri Hay and trainer Simon Callaghan. By Oasis Dream, Mirage has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $112,768.

Mirage was the second most expensive horse at the Goffs London Sale at Kensington Palace last June. At the time, Mirage, by Oasis Dream, had won her only start, in a maiden race at Brighton Racecourse last June.

Mirage was eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland last October. She won her first race in the United States in an optional claimer here on Feb. 5, her fifth start in this country.