Trainer Librado Barocio saddled the first graded stakes winner of his career when Visually came home on top in the May 5 Senorita Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park.
Girl of My Dreams took the early lead down Santa Anita's hillside turf course, while jockey Edwin Maldonado was content to let 17-1 Visually race in fifth. He moved her up to second as the field approached the dirt crossover to the main turf track. That positioned Visually to come on strongly in the stretch and score by a length in 1:12.91 for about 6 1/2 furlongs. Rascality finished second, a half-length ahead of favored Laulne.
Visually broke her maiden in her final start at 2 last year. In her initial 3-year-old outing, she finished fourth in the Feb. 1 Sweet Life Stakes and was moved up to third following a disqualification. Visually then had a troubled trip when fifth in the March 10 China Doll Stakes and ran fourth in a March 24 allowance/optional claiming race.
"That filly just started training really well after her last race," Barocio said.
Barocio is having a good season thus far in 2024. He has already won back-to-back stakes with California-bred Johnny Podres, a gelding he owns with David Bernsen. Barocio, who races his own horses in the name of Mia Familia Racing Stable, trains Visually for California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, Fick Brothers Racing, Dario Bernardi, and George Monty.
California Racing Partners bought Visually for $20,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales spring 2-year-old sale. Barocio credited Larry Zapp with selecting the 3-year-old daughter of Enticed .
ThoroughBred by Design bred Visually in Kentucky from the Candy Ride mare Eye Candy Annie. The second dam is stakes winner Annie's Apple, who is also the second dam of multiple graded winner Lady of Fifty.
