Like mother, like daughter. No doubt that
is what many fans were thinking after Ran Jan Racing’s Moulin de Mougin
won Sunday’s seventh race, a maiden event, in her second career start.
Trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by Corey Nakatani, the filly was making
her first try down Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course. She paid
$9.
“Moulin de Mougin’s dam,
Cambiocorsa, became known as the ‘queen of the hill’ during her
racing career,” noted Jon White, who makes Santa Anita’s morning
line and provides television commentary from the paddock for the track’s
simulcast network. “Cambiocorsa won her first eight starts down the hill.
And, like her dam, Ultrafleet, Cambiocorsa is turning into a terrific broodmare
in terms of producing winners down the hill.
“Cambiocorsa’s three offspring
to race down the hill so far have won four of five starts combined, with one
second. Schiaparelli (by 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper) is two for two
down the hill. Vionnet (by Street Sense) has a win and a second in two starts down the hill. And now Moulin de
Mougin (by 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin) is one for one down the
hill.”
Vionnet is entered in Thursday’s
seventh race. However, it is not a race down the hill. Thursday’s seventh
race is an allowance race at one mile on turf.
“Ultrafleet never raced down the
hill,” White said. “In fact, she never ran on the turf. She raced
four times on dirt and never won. But what Ultrafleet has achieved as a
broodmare is really remarkable. Her
offspring are a combined 15-21 down the hill. Her two most accomplished hill
runners have been Cambiocorsa and California Flag."
California Flag, trained by Brian
Koriner, has not started since he won the San Simeon Handicap down
the hill last April 21. The 8-year-old Avenue of Flags gelding worked six
furlongs on the turf Saturday in 1:14 3/5. He is expected to run down the hill
in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 3. In 2009, California Flag won
the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.