Pereira's touch helps Macadamia post upset in Gamely

ARCADIA, Calif. – A quirky mare from Brazil, and a hot jockey who began his career in the same country, teamed up Monday to upset the Grade1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita.

Macadamia ($14.40) and Tiago Pereira rallied to a one-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares, giving trainer Phil D’Amato his first Gamely victory.

Quattroelle rallied from seventh to second; 4-5 favorite Queen Goddess finished third. The fourth- through seventh-place finishers were Viareggio, Bellamore, Closing Remarks, and pacesetter School Dance. The time of the race was 1:48.01.

Although she arrived from Brazil having won two Group 1 races, 5-year-old Macadamia was slow to come around for D’Amato. Her U.S. campaign began in June 2022; she finished third or fourth in her first four U.S. starts.

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D’Amato noted South American imports “a lot of times, take longer to catch up with the older horses,” he said. “She finally did, and showed she can compete with the best of them.”

Macadamia turned the corner this winter when Pereira became her regular rider. “I have to give Tiago a lot of credit,” D’Amato said. “When she first came here, when she got the lead, she would look to find a way to get herself beat – put the brakes on, duck in, or duck out.”

Pereira rode her for the first time in February, and Macadamia won a second-level allowance at Santa Anita. She followed with a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Buena Vista and a victory in the Grade 3 Wilshire in her most recent start.

“We put Tiago on, and she’s slowly matured,” D’Amato said. “Those two just kind of gelled together.” In addition to being her regular race rider, Pereira is also the regular workout rider for Macadamia.

Pereira, who won four races Saturday and a Monday race prior to the Gamely, was scoring his second Grade 1 victory in the U.S. He won the 2021 Pacific Classic at Del Mar with Tripoli.

The Gamely unfolded at a tepid clip with School Dance setting leisurely fractions of 48.08 and 1:11.87. Her rider Flavien Prat told D’Amato, “She wanted no part of being on the lead.” School Dancer surrendered into the lane. Queen Goddess, who pressed the slow pace three wide, rallied to the lead, but faded on her run, and got collared late by runner-up Quattroelle.

Macadamia, owned by Japan-based R Unicorn Stable, has won five races and $444,413 from 13 starts. D’Amato said Macadamia is likely to campaign this summer at Del Mar, where the two Grade 2 turf races for fillies and mares are the Yellow Ribbon on Aug. 12 and John C. Mabee on Sept. 9.

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