Something has to give when Going Global, Madone clash in Honeymoon

ARCADIA, Calif. – A rivalry could begin Saturday at Santa Anita, where the top 3-year-old turf fillies in California will meet for the first time in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes.

Going Global and Madone, three-time stakes winners in peak form, headline the 1 1/8-mile Honeymoon as the division doubles from one top-class filly, to two.

Going Global burst on the scene by winning all three U.S. starts this year, including the Grade 3 Providencia last out at the Honeymoon distance. Though she has not started in seven weeks, trainer Phil D’Amato is confident Going Global will fire.

“The last thing I’m worried about with her is fitness,” D’Amato said. “Her last two drills going into this race have been nothing short of sensational. She’s fit as a fiddle and ready to go.”

She will need to be, because her main rival is legit. Madone won two stakes in 2020 before finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She returned with a sharp comeback win three weeks ago in the Grade 3 Senorita at a mile.

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Madone wheels back on relatively short notice, but trainer Simon Callaghan does not worry about a bounce or the longer distance.

“You never know, but I don’t feel she had a hard race,” Callaghan said. “She’s always been a big, strong, strapping filly. I think she definitely did well from 2 to 3.”

Going Global and Madone will vie for favoritism in the $100,000 Honeymoon, race 7 on a card that includes the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares, race 2. The field for the Honeymoon includes stakes winners Quattroelle and Pizzazz, along with Majestic Steps, Golden, and Midnight Diva.

Going Global was a high-strung “project” when she arrived this winter after beginning her career winning 1 of 4 starts in Ireland. D’Amato said the main reason Going Global has mellowed is exercise rider Domingo Ramirez.

“He takes extra time with her, waits until the track is quiet before he starts her gallop, and gives her a long walk home,” D’Amato said. “Those little things, and her just trusting him . . . she’s training like a nice, professional filly. She just settled nicely from race to race.”

Going Global has won the Grade 3 Sweet Life at six furlongs, the $100,000 China Doll at a mile, and the Providencia at 1 1/8 miles. Regular rider Flavien Prat is back aboard Saturday. Plans call for Going Global to aim for the major races for turf fillies this summer at Del Mar – the Grade 2 San Clemente on July 24 and the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 21.

As for Madone, Callaghan said “the Del Mar Oaks is something we hope she’s going to run in. Depending on how this race goes, we could think about the Belmont Oaks also.”

The Grade 1 Belmont Oaks is on July 10.

Juan Hernandez, who rode Madone to victory last out in the Grade 3 Senorita, rides her again Saturday.