Creed’s Gold Repeats in Hendrie Stakes at Woodbine

Kristin Meldahl’s Creed’s Gold  took the $124,169 Hendrie Stakes (G3) for the second year in a row to highlight a card with three grade 3 events July 25 at Woodbine.

The Mark Casse trainee broke moderately in the 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta race and followed front-runners Without Cause  and Kehoe Beach , but was taken back to stalk from third as opening fractions of :22.38 and :45.08 were drilled up front.

Owner: Kristin Meldahl

Breeder: Linda Griggs (KY)

Trainer: Mark E. Casse

Jockey: Rafael Manuel Hernandez

Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.

Pedigree Notes

Jimmy Creed stands at Spendthrift Farm.

Sale History

KEESEP2022 • $25,000 • Consignor: Four Star Sales • Buyer: Stan Mak, agent.

Fantastical, ch, 5/m

Air Force Blue — Wangari, by Giant’s Causeway

Owner: Carl R. Moore Management, LLC

Breeder: Paul Schwartz & James Reiley McDonald Jr. (KY)

Trainer: Joe Sharp

Jockey: Rafael Manuel Hernandez

Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.

Pedigree Notes

Air Force Blue stands in South Korea.

Sale History

KEESEP2022 • $75,000 • Consignor: Vinery Sales • Buyer: Carl R. Moore Management.

KEENOV2021 • $17,000 • Consignor: Eaton Sales • Buyer: Cedar Rock Ranch.

Dakotah Blue, dk b/br, 3/f

Mendelssohn — Empire Lady, by Empire Maker

Owner: Flying Zee Racing Stables LLC

Breeder: Grantley Acres (KY)

Trainer: Rachel Halden

Jockey: Jose Luis Campos

Information provided by Equibase at time of entry.

Pedigree Notes

Mendelssohn stands at Haras Don Alberto.

Sale History

KEENOV2023 • $25,000 • Consignor: Ballysax Bloodstock, for Grantley Acres • Buyer: Flying Zee Racing Stable.

Creed’s Gold was urged by rider Rafael Hernandez around the far turn, and followed stablemate Time to Dazzle  toward her outside, as Without Cause faded between them.

The 5-year-old daughter of Jimmy Creed   accelerated at the top of the stretch, blowing past Kehoe Beach to eventually outrun Time to Dazzle by 1 1/2 lengths. Reagan’s Flame  closed late for third. 

In a fantastic finish, the Carl R. Moore Management’s Fantastical  kicked late to score by a head in the 1 1/8-mile $127,503 Trillium Stakes (G3) a race later on the card.

With Hernandez aboard, the 5-year-old daughter of Air Force Blue  stalked the pace from fifth, just outside of longshot Fortyfiveseventy , while Lupa  set fractions of :24.29, :49.57, and 1:13.69

Swinging four wide into the stretch, Fantastical kept grinding in the center of the racetrack, with Fortyfiveseventy toward her inside. Together, they inched closer to front-runners Lupa and Rashmi  in late stretch, with Fantastical winning the three-horse photo finish.

In a race that hinged on a finishing kick, Flying Zee Racing Stables’ Dakotah Blue  outfinished Bandiagara  by a half-length to capture the $124,169 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T), the first stakes race on Woodbine’s Saturday card.

Sixth of eight 3-year-old fillies after a half-mile, Dakotah Blue, under Jose Campos, got the jump on Bandiagara, who attempted to rally from last. After advanced toward the leaders on the second turn and in the early stretch, Dakotah Blue took the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile and was able to outlast Bandiagara. The winner raced a mile on a firm turf course in 1:35.20 following quick initial splits in the race of :22.70 and :46.89 set by Happy Destination , who retreat over the second half-mile.

Flowerhead  showed.

Rachel Halden trains Dakotah Blue ($21.30), a daughter of Mendelssohn  bred in Kentucky out of the Empire Maker mare Empire Lady. Dakotah Blue, a $25,000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale purchase in 2023, is now 2-for-4 in posting her first career stakes victory.