Multiple graded stakes winner McCraken was represented by his first black-type stakes winner when Una Palabra captured the $80,000 Arizona Oaks March 11 at Turf Paradise.
The Arizona Oaks was the second-lifetime victory for Una Palabra, who broke her maiden in a $30,000 claiming event Jan. 25 at the Arizona track. The Vann Belvoir trained prevailed by a neck under jockey Harry Hernandez, timed covering a mile on a fast main track in 1:38.29.
Una Palabra upped her earnings to $73,305. She has been first or second in each of her four career starts.
Una Palabra is a homebred for Coal Creek Farm, who also campaigned her dam, the winning Dayjur mare One for You. The dam of 10 winners, One for You has also produced stakes winner Dedicated to You and stakes-placed Kartano. Born in Kentucky, Una Palabra failed to meet her reserve for $28,000 in 2021 at The July Sale at Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky when part of the Endeavor Farm consignment.
Second-crop sire McCraken retired to stud in 2019 at Airdrie Stud near Lexington. He entered Saturday as the 24th-ranked second-crop sire of 2023 after finishing 25th among first first-crop sires of 2022.
The 9-year-old son of Ghostzapper , a Whitham Thoroughbreds' homebred, is a half sister to graded stakes winner Four Graces, who sold for $2.3 million at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and graded placed Bondurant.
Video: Arizona Oaks (BT)
