Didia holds on to win by a neck in Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf
Prominently placed early, favoriteDidia surged to the lead in the stretch and held off long shot Surprisingly bya neck to win the third running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
In addition to the top prize money for the winner of the 1 1/16 milestest, the race was an automatic qualifier for the Nassau Stakes (G1) on Aug. 1 at Goodwood,England. Didia, a 6-year-old Argentina-bred mare owned by Merriebelle Stable,earned an entry into the race and a $25,000 stipend for travel.
Didia’s triumph was her sixth in eightstarts in North America since being shipped from Argentina in 2022 and moved tothe care of veteran trainer Ignacio Correas. She was 3-1 the wagering and paid$8.60 to win.
“It’s very exciting,”Correas said. “It’s our first time coming here, and it’s really great.”
Accomplished Gal bouncedout to the lead from the gate, but Didia and jockey José Ortiz were always withher pressing the pace. Under Édgard Zayas, Accomplished Gal covered the firstquarter-mile in 24.88 seconds and the first half in 46.62. The six-furlong timewas 1:12.01, and Didia reached the wire at 1:40.90.
“I told José to be close,and don’t leave her that much to do,” Correas said. “He was a bit closer, butwhen I saw that the pace was not that fast, I was very happy with where shewas. I thought if she got beat, it was going to be if she beat herself. She hadeverything in her favor.”
In her most recent startin the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, Didiaturned in an uncharacteristically poor showing and ended up 10th of 12, althoughshe was only 4 1/2 lengths back.
“We thought that she wasgoing to run off like she did in California,” Ortiz said, “that she was goingto go off in 46 (seconds for the first half-mile) or something like that, butshe didn't. When I hit the first turn, I knew we were going very reasonable,and I was able to take the position that I did.
“You can see her head, andshe put her ears up on the backside. I was head to head, but she was relaxed. Iwas very happy in the position that I was.”
After a mile in 1:35.14,Didia separated herself from the competition by the sixteenth pole but had todeal with the challenge from Repole Stable’s Surprisingly, who came down therail under Oisín Murphy.
“She gave me a very nicekick from the three-sixteenths (pole) to the last couple of yards,” Ortiz said.“The other horses started gaining more ground on me, but she was already on theend.”
Surprisingly, a PhippsStable homebred purchased by Repole Stable for $1 million at auction inNovember, was making her first start for trainer Todd Pletcher. Surprisinglywent off at 25-1 in the wagering and finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of RubyNell.
“She closed really well,”Pletcher said. “The fractions were pretty soft. She was at a disadvantage. I’mpleased with her effort.”
Surprisingly drew theoutside post in the field that was reduced to 11 by the scratch of Full CountFelicia.
“(Murphy) worked his wayover. It kind of worked out well,” Pletcher said. “She didn’t break well. Hekind of tucked in, and she worked her way through horses. Then he found a seamfor himself.”
Spendthrift Farm’s RubyNell was always in contention in a stalking position but never was able to useher speed to make a solid run at the leaders.
“She ran nice,” Hall ofFame trainer Richard Mandella said. “She got away from the gate a little bittoo relaxed. I guess I put her to sleep with my training. We’re going to haveto set the alarm clock better next time. With that pace, she should have beencruising right along. Hey, I’m happy to be third.”
Correas came away from therace even more impressed with Didia.
“I think that probablyshe’s better than I ever imagined,” he said. “She can do whatever. When youthink that she was running a mile-and-a-quarter and them come and put in such aperformance almost wire to wire, close to the lead, these horses they justtrain themselves. We just need to stay out of the way.”
