Returned to turf after three starts on dirt and all-weather surfaces, Warming delivered an explosive move in the stretch to surge to a 1-length victory in the $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3T) May 16 at Laurel Park.
It marks the second straight grade 3 win on turf for Warming, a 4-year-old daughter of Global Campaign who in her most recent turf start won the Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) before closing out last season with an off-the-board finish in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3) on the dirt at Del Mar. She opened this year with placings in a pair of races on all-weather surfaces at Gulfstream Park and Turfway Park.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Warming welcomed the return to turf Saturday as she completed the 1 1/16-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies and older in 1:41.10 on firm ground. Winning trainer Graham Motion thought it was her best race to date.
"We've always loved this filly," Motion said. "She was my best 2-year-old. I had a lot of issues with her early on, but we always thought she was this kind of filly. I think finally we saw her today. I mean, obviously she won the race in California. But this was different, this was a different level today.
"I thought she ran well on the synthetic at Gulfstream. She's been a little bit hard to place. She won't be so hard to place now that we know she's proper graded caliber."
On Saturday with John Velazquez up, Warming rated in sixth early as stablemate Ribaltagaia led through a quarter-mile in :23.95, a half-mile in :48.12, and 6 furlongs in 1:12.05. For much of that early going, Ribaltagaia led a tightly bunched group of five fillies and mares, while Warming led a group of three runners who rated 5 lengths behind that pack.
In the stretch, Warming still raced in sixth, and Child of the Moon ran to her outside in seventh. They attempted to launch their rallies at the same time. After a bump, Warming found space and moved forward to take command inside the final sixteenth. The Equibase GPS chart credited Warming with a final furlong in :11.19.
"Today she got to relax off the pace," Velazquez said. "She relaxed really well and she finished well. I was going to make one move with her no matter what. I waited until the quarter pole and someone came up on my outside and I said, 'It's time to go,' and she responded. It's nice when they do what you want them to do and she responded really well."
Warming returned $19.80, $8.80, and $5.60 across the board, while Child of the Moon returned $5.20 and $3.60 to place and show. Longshot Cheetah Lady finished third and returned $6 to show.
Warming is one of three winners from four starters for the Unusual Heat mare Haute Style, who is a full sister to stakes winners Lennyfromalibu and Heat Du Jour.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners secured Warming when they paid $100,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She was consigned to that auction by Blue Sapphire Stables, agent.
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