Signorina Merisi rallies late in Miss America to notch first stakes win

Signorina Merisi began 2023 with a win in a maiden race in her ninth career start at Golden Gate Fields in January, which was also her debut in the United States.

A 4-year-old British-bred, Signorina Merisi had what is likely her final start of the year in Sunday’s $52,100 Miss America Stakes for fillies and mares at Golden Gate Fields. She rallied through the final furlong to win her first stakes in her second attempt.

Ridden by Assael Espinoza, Signorina Merisi closed from fourth in a field of nine to win by a length over stretch leader Anthonys Cleopatra, the 5-2 favorite.

Signorina Merisi ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.11 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

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Ladywearsthering (5-1) finished third, a head in front of Stoic Luna in the field of nine.

Callhercontessa, a 6-1 chance, set an early pace of 23.29 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.34 for a half-mile. She was caught on the second turn by Anthonys Cleopatra, a stakes winner at Golden Gate Fields in 2022.

Anthonys Cleopatra, second in the Washington Cup Filly and Mare Stakes at Emerald Downs in her last start in September, looked like a winner in the stretch after stalking the early pace to the turn.

Signorina Merisi also raced as a stalker. Espinoza moved Signorina Merisi four-wide on the turn. The filly closed steadily through the stretch to take the lead in the final 70 yards of the Miss America Stakes, winning for the fourth time in eight starts in the United States, all at Golden Gate Fields.

Owned by Ron Charles and Sam Gordon and trained by Manny Badilla, Signorina Merisi has won 4 of 16 starts and earned $106,008.

By Caravaggio, Signorina Merisi earned $2,487 in eight starts in Britain before arriving in California late in 2022.

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