Superstition collects Daisycutter Handicap victory

DEL MAR, Calif. - A cool and collected Superstition closed from a stalking position to win Sunday’s $90,380 Daisycutter Handicap for fillies and mares on turf at Del Mar in a prep for an expected trip to Kentucky Downs in September.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Superstition ($6) ran five furlongs on turf in 56.89 seconds.

“She’s a little hot-headed, but she rated nice,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “She kept her cool and that could help her be a better filly.”

Sent off favored, Superstition was fourth on the backstretch in pursuit of Bulletproof One, who set an early pace of 22.17 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.89 for a half-mile. Racing outside of Bulletproof One in the stretch, Superstition took the lead in the final sixteenth and won by 1 1/2 lengths over 8-1 Querelle, who closed from sixth in the final furlong.

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Bulletproof One, a three-time stakes winner, finished third as the 2-1 second choice, a nose behind Querelle.

Gypsy Spirit finished fourth, followed by Constantia, Brja Escarlata, Never for Money, Five Pics Please, Rakassah, and Lenzi’s Lucky Lady.

The Daisycutter win is likely to lead to an appearance by Superstition in the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint, a $600,000 turf race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 11. Mandella said in the winner’s circle that Superstition was unlikely to have another start before that race.

A 4-year-old filly by Ghostzapper, Superstition has won 4 of 10 starts and has earned $244,140 for owners Ramona and Perry Bass. Purchased for $850,000 as a yearling in 2018, Superstition won the restricted Wishing Well Stakes on turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 15 and was later second in the Mizdirection Stakes on April 17 and third by five lengths in the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes on June 5.

Following the Monrovia, Mandella gave Superstition a brief rest before resuming training in advance of the Daisycutter.

Mandella and Prat teamed to win two stakes over the weekend, beginning with United’s victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes.