Uncorked ends layoff with Royal Heroine victory

ARCADIA, Calif. – It took longer than planned for Uncorked to make her California debut, and longer than expected to find a clear path into the stretch of the Grade 3 Royal Heroine Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

On both fronts, the wait was worth it.

Uncorked ($12.80) and jockey Frankie Dettori won the Royal Heroine, a turf mile for fillies and mares, by two lengths over runner-up Justique. The 2.10-1 favorite Stay and Scam finished third.

Phil D’Amato trains Uncorked for The Elkstone Group. The ownership group shipped the mare to California early this year to target winter-spring turf stakes. Uncorked got sick while traveling, and by the time she recovered Santa Anita was in the middle of a wet winter that interrupted her preparation.

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Weeks and months went by, the weather finally cleared, and D’Amato got Uncorked ready for her first start since November at Aqueduct. The question in the Royal Heroine was whether she would find room into the stretch.

Dettori tucked Uncorked alone in sixth, saving every inch of ground into and through the far turn. But nearing the quarter pole, there was nowhere to go. Dettori stayed cool, waited, and when pacesetter stablemate Bellabel drifted out at the top of the stretch, Dettori asked the question.

“The field opened up like the Red Sea and I got the inside fence, and she just took off,” Dettori said. The win was Uncorked’s fourth from 17 starts, and her first graded stakes. She began her career in Australia; she has won 3 of 8 in the U.S.

D’Amato assistant Julie Witt was not surprised at the turn of foot Uncorked produced. “She is an Australian-bred and they are known for their sprinter-milers down there and they have a heck of a turn of foot,” Witt said. Uncorked ran her final quarter-mile in 23.29. The final time for the turf mile was 1:34.06.

After the top three, the order of finish in the Royal Heroine was Fuente Ovejuna, Lakota Spirit, Miss Lizzy, Bellabel, Irresistible Force and Glenall.

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