Farrell Impressive in Golden Rod Victory
Coffeepot Stables’ homebred Farrell took command shortly after the start and led every step of the way to easily win Saturday’s 73rd running of the $200,000 Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs by six lengths over 5-2 favorite Daddys Lil Darling.
Farrell, who ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.26 to beat 11 other 2-year-old fillies, collected the $115,320 first prize for owners Bob Cummings and Annette Bacola and 10 points as part of the 30-race “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” series, which offers points on a scale of 10-4-2-1 to the Top 4 finishers as a “Prep Season” race.
Channing Hill rode the winner for his father-in-law trainer Wayne Catalano, who won the Golden Rod for the second time in three years. He saddled West Coast Belle to victory in 2014.
Farrell, who broke her maiden at Churchill Downs on Oct. 1 and returned to finish third in the $82,340 Rags to Riches Overnight Stakes on Oct. 30, got away from the starting gate in good order from post 11 and asserted herself around the first turn. She led Rags to Riches winner Lovely Bernadette by 1 ½ lengths after a first quarter mile in :23.89 and the half in :48.33.
After six furlongs in 1:13.80, Lovely Bernadette came within a length at the head of the stretch but Farrell saved her best running for the stretch as she drew off for the comfortable victory. Daddys Lil Darling, the Pocahontas (Grade II) winner who was runner-up in the Alcibiades (GI) and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI), had three rivals beaten down the backstretch but rallied for the place by a neck over Ever So Clever.
“It’s an easy ride when you’re on much the best and have everything your way,” Hill said. “The biggest thing was that she settled into the turn and on the backside and from there, it was going to be tough to catch her. She’s got a lot of quality to her. She’s going to be tough wherever she goes this winter.”
Gris Gris was another 1 ¼ lengths back in fourth and was followed by Lovely Bernadette, China Grove, Dream Dancing, Dance Proposal, My Sweet Stella, Someday Soon, Funny Holiday and Fun.
Farrell improved her record to 4-2-0-1—$151,357, paid $23, $8 and $6.20 as the 10-1 sixth betting choice. Daddys Lil Darling, ridden by Corey Lanerie, paid $3.80 and $2.80. Ever So Clever, under Ricardo Santana Jr., returned $3.60 to show.
Farrell, a daughter of Malibu Moon out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Rebridled Dreams, was bred in Kentucky by her owners.
“The Rags to Riches was the stepping stone to here and she ran well, but we really, really loved her going into today’s race,” Catalano said. “She trained great, got the race over the track. Everything was beautiful. She’ll probably go to Fair Grounds for the winter.”
Source: Churchill Downs