Fasig-Tipton Bound Special Wan Dominates the Goldikova

[Wandering Eyes]

Just outside of 48 hours before she is set to take her place as hip 155 at Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) enhanced her resume with a straight-forward success as the favorite in Saturday's GII Goldikova Stakes at Del Mar.

Away neatly from the three hole, Special Wan was with the early pace, but was wisely taken a hold of by Joel Rosario as 77-1 Violeta M (Arg) (John F Kennedy {Ire}) opened up a sizeable advantage through enervating early splits of :22.82 and :46.29. Kept inside for the run into the turn, Special Wan took the race to the longshot leader with 2 1/2 furlongs to travel and that first crack at the front-runner proved decisive, as the bay easily held sway to the wire. Breath Away (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) outfinished Medoro (Honor Code) for the place spot.

“She's a very special horse and she showed me that again today,” the winning rider commented. “I knew Mike (Smith) and Violeta M were going fast on the lead, but my horse just relaxed and settled comfortably behind her. She made the lead easily on her own, I just let her go. I shook the reins at her just to keep her focused in the stretch and she finished well. She was the best horse in the race, that's for sure.”

A maiden winner and narrowly beaten in Group 3 company against the boys at Leopardstown for trainer Patrick Foley, Special Wan made this year's GIII Honey Fox Stakes her first graded success on her third U.S. appearance. An excellent third after having to alter course in the stretch of the GI Just A Game Stakes in yielding ground at Saratoga June 6, the bay defeated the classy Segesta (Ghostzapper) in the GIII Ladies' Turf Stakes at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30 when last seen, earning a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pedigree Notes:

Special Wan is the most accomplished of four foals to race from her dam, a daughter of SW Slow Jazz–herself by inaugural GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Chief's Crown–whose other produce includes Italian listed winner and Group 3-placed Mister Cavern (GB) (Lion Cavern). The winner's half-sister Yerwanthere (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) also has form on the Southern California circuit, having placed three times in stakes company including a third in the 2024 GIII Robert J. Frankel Stakes. The yearling relation to Special Wan, a filly by Blue Point (Ire), was purchased for 160,000gns ($226,549) by David Ingordo on behalf of Matt Dorman's Determined Stud at this year's Tattersalls October Sale. Fast Jazz foaled a filly by Gleneagles (Ire) this past March.

Saturday, Del Mar
GOLDIKOVA S. PRESENTED BY YAAMAVA'-GIII, $303,000, Del Mar, 11-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34.26, fm.
1–SPECIAL WAN (IRE), 123, m, 5, by Belardo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Fast Jazz (Ire), by Frozen Power (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Slow Jazz, by Chief's Crown
                3rd Dam: Blue Note (Fr), by Habitat
(£225,000 RNA 3yo '23 GOFASC). O-Team Valor International
LLC and Rocco, Steven; B-Kilnamoragh Stud (IRE); T-Brendan P.
Walsh; J-Joel Rosario. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-2-3,
MGSP-Ire, $1,007,598. *1/2 to Yerwanthere (Ire) (Markaz
{Ire}), GSP, $191,422. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free
   Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Breath Away (GB), 125, m, 5, Bated Breath (GB)–Darling
Grace (GB), by Nayef. (92,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 230,000gns
Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rocco,
Steven and Tango Uniform Racing LLC; B-Highgate Stud (GB);
T-Miguel Clement. $60,000.
3–Medoro, 121, f, 4, Honor Code–Achira, by English Channel.
O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Parks Investment Group, LLC (KY);
T-Peter Eurton. $36,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 11.10, 2.70.
Also Ran: Crevalle d'Oro, Deep Satin, Public Assembly, Temptable (GB), Nadette (Fr), Lady Claypoole (Ire), Liguria, Violeta M (Arg). Scratched: Certitude (Fr), Sun Of Hill (Brz).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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