Moonshine Memories possible for Rancho Bernardo

DEL MAR, Calif. - A small field may keep the Grade 1 stakes winner Moonshine Memories at Del Mar for Sunday’s Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap.

As of the weekend, the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs had six probable starters, led by 2017 winner Skye Diamonds. Other candidates are Anonymity, Deer Valley, Munny Spunt, and Turkish Tabby. Munny Spunt and Turkish Tabby were supplemented for $1,000 last Sunday.

Moonshine Memories is the only 3-year-old among the probable starters. Simon Callaghan, who trains Moonshine Memories for Bridlewood Farm and the Coolmore Stud syndicate, is also considering the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga on Sept. 3, but said the Rancho Bernardo is intriguing because of his filly’s success on the track.

“We’ll be receiving some weight,” Callaghan said. “If we run, we’ll see how we fit in the older (female) category going forward. We know she likes Del Mar. This is a good distance for her.

“Having said that, the Prioress is six furlongs and that’s a good distance for her. You can make a case for that.”

Marley’s Freeedom, the winner of the Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos last month, is the 126-pound highweight, but is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 25. Skye Diamonds was assigned 122 pounds, five more than Moonshine Memories.

Moonshine Memories has won 4 of 7 starts and earned $518,500. She has won three sprints here – a maiden race in her debut last August and the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last September. Moonshine Memories was seventh as the 2-1 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies here last November.

On July 18, the second day of the current meeting, Moonshine Memories won an allowance race for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.
The Rancho Bernardo would be her first start outside of her age group.