Owner and breeder MARK DODSON decided not to part with his Army Mule soon to be named LAMIRADA at last year’s Keeneland September yearling sale. The bidding got up to $200,000 but Dodson, who offered the filly through Woods Edge Farm as agent, bought her back. It has proven to be a shrewd move.
The brilliantly fast juvenile filly took hold of a very fast Tapeta surface at Woodbine on Sunday, Oct. 11 and flew to an 8 1/4 length victory in the $143,000 Glorious Song Stakes at seven furlongs. With Fraser Aebly riding, Lamirada was briefly three wide in an early pace duel before she drew off with ease. John Menary and Gail Cox’s Epic Affair was second with a closing Cattrall, who had early trouble, getting third.
Trained by Hall of Famer Josie Carroll, Lamirada’s time was a sensational 1:21.29, about one second faster than Odenkirk’s winning time in the Display Stakes.
“When she made the lead as easily as she did, I thought, hey, we’re in good shape,” said Carroll. “Then I looked at the fractions and I said ‘Whoa,’ but she was doing it so, so easily.”
The win was a relief to Dodson, Carroll and Aebly after the filly went from a stunning career debut when she won by 11 3/4 lengths and earned an 86 Beyer Figure in a Tapeta sprint to a flat seventh in the Grade 1 Natalma at one mile on the grass.
Produced from the winning mare Sister Nova, by Verrazano, Lamirada is a half sister to Coronation Futurity and Queenston Stakes winner Notorious Gangster and two other winners. Sister Nova is a half sister to newly-turned millionaire Money upply, a Grade 3 stakes winner as well as another Dodson broodmare, Sister Nation, winner of the Ruling Angel Stakes.
Lamirada could try to stretch her speed out once again in the upcoming Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
*Earlier on the Sunday Woodbine card, the highly regarded TRUE NORTH STAR, a son of first-year sire Early Voting, won his maiden by five lengths, taking a maiden special weight grass race at 1 mile in 1:36.32. It was the second career start for True North Star, who is trained by Mark Casse for West Point Thoroughbreds, Kenneth Burke and Nolan Stables.
Bred by Shannondoe Farm, Arika Meeuse and Robert Marzilli, True North Star was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Cavalier Bloodstock who then went to England. The colt went through the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up sale and brought $284,898 from West Point et al. The colt is the first foal from two-time winner She’s Got Moves, who is a granddaughter of champion Dancethruthedawn.
She’s Got Moves is owned by Michael Leahy’s Carrigfadda Bloodstock and she is in foal to War of Will.
True North Star is the first winner for Joe and Brenda Nolan’s Nolan Farms which has joined forces with West Point Thoroughbreds in purchases this year.
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