The old saying goes “good things come to those who wait”, and that was the case for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, and Gainesway Farm as the partners had to wait for the final race at Churchill Downs on Saturday to see Demimondaine deliver a victory
Trained by Steve Asmussen, the juvenile was making her first competitive appearance on the racetrack when she broke from post 11 under jockey Ricardo Santana Junior during the track’s Memorial Day weekend meet, and she didn’t disappoint. Rushed up away from the gates by her pilot the pair settled in to keep in touch with the pace over the one mile and one-sixteenth trip. The filly found her rhythm early, travelling smoothly behind the pacesetters before moving to challenge on the turn for home. She showed plenty of determination to get to the front following a protracted battle down the stretch with George Arnold II’s Sugar Love, finally getting the better of her rival in the closing stages to win, perhaps, a shade cosily.
“She’s run a really big race today,” said Santana Junior as he reflected on the performance “especially for her first time up she knew her job well enough and she’ll learn a lot from the experience. I’m really happy with her and she feels like a nice filly.”
Being by Tapit, the filly triggered a double celebration for Gainesway who stand the sire while the victory could hint at a bright future for Demimondaine, who is out of winning mare Colonial Flag and is closely related to Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Shared Account. Whether that is the case or not only time will tell, but for the moment, connections can enjoy the moment and plan for her next assignment.