Moonlight d'Oro rallies to win Las Virgenes for Mandella

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella is officially on the Kentucky Oaks trail following Moonlight d'Oro's 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Saturday. 

Sent off the 6-5 second-choice in a five-horse field, Moonlight d'Oro and Flavien Prat bided their time at the back of the pack before uncorking their rally on the second turn and blowing past the favored pacesetter Kalypso at the top of the stretch. Moonlight d'Oro completed one mile on a fast track in 1:38.01 to earn 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks and provide Prat with a third-straight Las Virgenes win. 

Mandella – who has never won a Kentucky Oaks in his accomplished career – last won the Las Vigenes in 2013 with Beholder, who would go on to be second in that year's Oaks. Kalypso, who was exiting a win in the seven-furlong Santa Ynez (G2) for Bob Baffert, held second to earn four points toward the Kentucky Oaks. Third-place finisher Moraz earned two points with Brilliant Cut completing the superfecta to collect one.

Kalypso set fractions of 23.25, 47.47 and 1:12.72 before being overhauled.

Owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, Moonlight d'Oro was exiting a sharp three-length maiden win Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos when stretched around two turns following two sprint efforts at Del Mar. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro out of Venetian Sonata, by Bernardini, was a $620,000 auction purchase as a yearling. 

Santa Anita's road to the Kentucky Oaks continues with the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (50-20-10-5) on March 7 and concludes with the Grade 2, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (100-40-20-10) on April 3, both contested at 1 1/16 miles.

Moonlight d'Oro paid $4.60.

[Story will be updated]