Sobradora Inc looks great in first U.S. start winning Osunitas
DEL MAR, Calif. – You only get one chance to make a first impression, and Simon Callaghan made quite the impression on Sunday at Del Mar.
The young trainer sent out his first South American import, and first runner for new client Katsumi Yoshida, in the filly Sobradora Inc., who unleashed a terrific turn of foot through the lane to post a 9-1 upset in the $80,035 Osunitas Stakes for older female grass runners.
Sobradora Inc ($20.40) had one horse beat near the top of the lane, but flew past her rivals once tipped to the middle of the course and beat Prize Exhibit by a half-length, with Elektrum a head farther back in third in a race dominated by late runners.
Havanna Belle was fourth and was followed, in order, by favored Juno – who set the early pace -- Entrechat, Moon Over Paris, and My Year Is a Day.
Sobradora Inc covered 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.89, and gave jockey Rafael Bejarano his third straight winner on the card.
“Her works weren’t quick, but she had shown a real turn of foot,” said Callaghan, who was relieved to get his first win of the meet, saying, “We needed that.”
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a top-class turf filly, but she’s as good as any I’ve had,” he said.
Sobradora Inc was unbeaten in four starts in her native Argentina, including a pair of Group 1 wins. But her moderate work tab – on paper – plus the depth of the field, allowed her to fall through the cracks in the betting.
Callaghan said Sobradora Inc was imported about five months ago for Yoshida, who is from the most influential family of horse breeders in Japan.
“We were patient, gave her time to acclimate,” Callaghan said. Noting that Sobradora Inc was bred on South American time, Callaghan said, “She just turned 4.”
Callaghan said he was not inclined to bring Sobradora Inc back quickly, and noted that three of her four prior victories were at distances farther than the 1 1/16 miles of the Osunitas. So, he said he likely would await the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita’s fall meeting for Sobradora Inc’s next start.
Sobradora Inc, a daughter of Include, is a perfect 5 for 5, and the $47,400 she earned on Sunday brought her career earnings to more than $240,000.