Viadera, Blowout likely headed to Matriarch, Brown says

Viadera and Blowout, the 1-2 finishers from Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Noble Damsel Stakes, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch at Del Mar on Nov. 29, trainer Chad Brown said Sunday.

Viadera is owned and bred by Juddmonte Farms, which has won the Matriarch six times. Five of those wins came with trainer Bobby Frankel, for whom Brown worked several years. Brown has won two of the last three runnings of the Matriarch with Noble Damsel winners Uni (2018) and Off Limits (2017).

“Obviously, that’s a race we’ve had success in and Juddmonte has had amazing success in over the years,” Brown said. “I’m sure that race will be on the radar.”

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Viadera nailed Blowout late by a neck to win the Noble Damsel, running a mile in 1:32.90 and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 96. The early fractions of 22.17 for the quarter, 44.85 for the half-mile, and 1:08.38 for six furlongs helped Viadera’s cause but likely worked against Blowout, who was game to hold second.

“Those were just insane fractions,” Brown told NYRA publicity Sunday morning. “It showed her heart and the talent that she has to nearly still pull it off. It was remarkable to me. I was most impressed with her. Both horses ran terrific, and so far, they look good.”