Super Shine gives D'Amato another top dirt female

ARCADIA, Calif. – Super Shine’s runner-up U.S. debut in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes on April 21 gives trainer Phil D’Amato a top older dirt female for spring, while D’Amato-trained Desert Dawn will get a break following her third-place finish as the odds-on favorite.

D’Amato said Super Shine “came out of the race in good shape, and we’ll go forward with her.” A Group 2 winner who was imported from Argentina, Super Shine was making her first start in nearly a year in the Santa Maria. She missed by a neck to Coffee in Bed. The next major dirt stakes for Southern California fillies and mares is the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes on May 26.

Desert Dawn, third in the Santa Maria after making a premature move, will go on vacation.

“We’re going to freshen her up and maybe run her at the end of Del Mar, and then try to get into the Breeders’ Cup,” D’Amato said.

Desert Dawn has won three races and $988,525 from 21 starts, including the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks. She has placed in three Grade 1s.

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