Juddmonte Farms' Filimbi collared pacesetter Dayatthespa in the stretch and outfought that tenacious rival for her first U.S. stakes win Aug. 2 in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose at Saratoga Race Course (VIDEO).
Making her third U.S. start for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old Mizzen Mast filly rallied smartly from midpack with Joel Rosario in the De La Rose. Filimbi engaged slight 2-1 favorite Dayatthespa and jockey Javier Castellano at the eighth pole and then shook free of that rival with a sixteenth remaining. She coasted across the finish line under a hand ride to post a 1 3/4-length triumph.
The winner covered one mile on the firm inner turf course in 1:34.42 for her fifth victory from 10 starts.
Filimbi relaxed in fifth as Dayatthespa dueled with Alaura Michele to lead through the opening stages. Alaura Maria pressed the front-runner to the far turn where she tired. Dayatthespa enjoyed a one-length lead mid-stretch before Filimbi rolled up on her outside to challenge. The two matched strides briefly before Filimbi dispatched Dayathespa en route to a comfortable win.
"We had a good trip. I thought we were going to be a little closer, but I saw Javier send his horse to the lead and a couple more had speed," Rosario said. "I just let her place herself wherever she wanted to be, and I just hoped that she'd kick turning home.
"She's a nice filly; the more you ask, the more she gives. I was very confident."
Grade I winner Dayatthespa was a little short in her first start of the year for trainer Chad Brown. She closed out 2013 with a fourth-place finish in the Matriarch (gr. I), beaten a length Dec 1.
Filimbi paid $6.70, $3.70, and $2.70 also at odds of 2-1 while Dayatthespa returned $3.40 and $2.60. Dayatthespa's stablemate Pianist, seventh through the first half-mile, was up for third and paid $3.20.
Baffle Me was fourth, followed by Silsita, Joy, Alaura Michele, Ready Signal, and Interesting to complete the order of finish.
Filimbi began her career with trainer Criquette Head-Maarek in France, where she won the 2013 Prix Isola Bella. She is out of Juddmonte's homebred 2001 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) victress Flute, a daughter of Seattle Slew who also won the Alabama Stakes (gr. I).
