Heavily favored following a big first-out maiden win, Spendthrift Farm’s Kopion overcame a touch of greenness early to register an impressive 5 ¾ length score in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita. Ridden by Flavien Prat, the three-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach, trained by Richard Mandella, got seven furlongs in 1:23.89.
Kopion, a Kentucky bred daughter of Sovereign Award Outstanding broodmare GALLOPING AMI, was bred by Ivan Dalos’ Tall Oaks Farm.
Breaking sharply from the rail, Kopion’s primary opposition, Tambo, stumbled leaving the gate to her immediate outside and Kopion made an easy lead but shied a bit as the field came out of the chute to join up with the main track oval.
With Prat in firm control however, Kopion recovered quickly and had a 1 ½ length advantage on Don’t Bring Crazy three furlongs out and increased her lead to 2 ½ lengths at the quarter pole. Hand-ridden to the wire, Kopion was never threatened and galloped out powerfully.
Off at 1-5 in her 6 ½ furlong debut on Nov. 26 at Del Mar, which she won by 3 3/4 lengths with an 83 Beyer Speed Figure, Kopion was again off at 1-5 versus three rival sophomore fillies today and paid $2.40 and $2.10 with no show wagering.
A $270,000 Keeneland September Yearling sale graduate, Kopion, picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her bankroll to $96,600.
The longest shot in the field with Juan Hernandez up at 16-1, Don’t Bring Crazy sat second the entire trip and paid $4.60 to place while finishing 4 ¾ lengths in front of an unlucky Tambo.
Fractions on the race were 23.70, 46.55 and 1:10.87.
GALLOPING AMI, who won the 2016 Outstanding Broodmare Sovereign Award, is a descendant of a long line of Dalos Canadian-breds. Third dam Sybelle Ami produced SECRET AMI, placed five times in stakes. Secret Ami, the dam of Galloping Ami, also produced stakes winner and top producer Victorious Ami.
Galloping Ami has seven winning foals including Kopion. She is the dam of champion AMIS GIZMO, Grade 3 winner AMI’S FLATTER and stakes winner Aragorn Ami.
Galloping Ami has a two-year-old colt named Authentic Gallop, (Authentic), a yearling filly by Essential Quality, and was bred to Uncle Mo for this term. The aforementioned juvenile was a $300,000 Keeneland September buy by Greg Tramontin.
~ edited press release
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