Fresh off of an airplane from Lexington, Ky., Irish-bred Selenaia proved much the best among a field of eight sophomore fillies in the June 10 Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park as she sprinted to a 3 1/4-length victory under Joe Bravo. Trained by Kentucky-based Jonathan Thomas, Selenaia, in her first stakes engagement, got a mile and an eighth on turf in 1:48.18.
Breaking sharply, Selenaia was fourth under a snug hold, about 4 1/2 lengths off of Bob Baffert's speedy Fast and Shiny as the field crossed the finish line for the first time. Fourth by a similar margin heading to the far turn, she pulled Bravo to the fore midway around the turn, made the lead a quarter-mile from the finish, and fairly sprinted to the wire under a hand ride in a most impressive Southern California debut.
"I've never been on her before (but) I've seen her replays," said Bravo. "Jonathan gave me a big heads up on her today and she broke away from there and was in control about it all. I really didn't want to make the move down the backside. Man, she stretched out across the wire so beautifully."
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables, Selenaia is now 3-0-0 from four starts with earnings of $106,230.
Broadway Girls, forwardly placed throughout, was second best on the day, finishing 2 1/4 lengths in front of race favorite Paris Secret.
