In a racing first, English-bred
Rhythm of Light, who won the Group II
International Istanbul Trophy in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sept. 1, shipped
to Santa Anita and won her U.S. debut on Sunday, the Grade II Goldikova
Stakes for fillies and mares at one mile on turf as Santa Anita’s 24-day
Autumn Meet drew to a close.
Dispatched as the 2-1 favorite in a field of seven, Rhythm of
Light was next-to-last early under Garrett Gomez, but rallied strongly
through the stretch to put away runner-up A Jealous Woman and Brice
Blanc late, winning by 1 ½ lengths while getting the distance in
1:33.42.
“She did everything like a class filly should, and she proved
she was today,” said Gomez. “She was absolutely perfect about
everything and traveled the last six furlongs exactly the way I wanted
her to.
“She was never too keen or too much off the bridle and raced
beautiful the whole time. When I asked her to pick it up, she picked up
great and came home nice. I didn’t have to ask her for too much.”
Rhythm of Light paid $6.80, $4.60 and $3.40. With the winner’s
share of $90,000, the 4-year-old daughter of Beat Hollow boosted her
bankroll to $403,659. Trained by English-based Thomas Dascombe, she is
owned by Deal, Lowe or Silver.
“I told the jockey she’s going to be slowly away from the
American horses, so don’t ask her after the jump (break),” said
Dascombe. “She’s got one run, and he (Gomez) got a nice, clean run at
them, and she won well.”
A Jealous Woman, the lone California-bred in the Goldikova
field, sat second to pace-setting Let’s Go Cheyenne through splits of
23.14, 47.23, 1:10.42 and 1:22.16. A Jealous Woman opened up a length
and a half at the top of the stretch but could not withstand the late
charge of the winner. Off as the second choice at odds of 7-2, she paid
$5.40 and $3.80.
Vivo Per Lei, with Mike Smith up, rallied from off the pace but never threatened. She paid $4.40 to show.