World traveler Rhythm of Light, coming off a group II win in Turkey, turned in an explosive stretch run to capture the $150,000 Goldikova Stakes (gr. IIT) (VIDEO) on closing day of the fall meet at Santa Anita Park Nov. 4.
Even after two days of Breeders' Cup World Championship event racing, it was hard not to be impressed by the closing kick displayed by the British-bred 4-year-old filly on the Santa Anita turf course.
Next to last in the field of seven going one mile on the turf, Rhythm of Light angled four wide for the drive and took off for Garrett Gomez. She had to idle briefly when drifting toward the rail, but quickly found her best stride again under strong encouragement on the far outside. After getting to the lead past mid-stretch, the 2-1 pick edged away to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:33.42.
A Jealous Woman, who opened up a 1 1/1-length advantage at the top of the stretch, ran second with Vivo Per Lei 2 1/2 lengths farther back in third.
A daughter of Beat Hollow out of the Irish-bred Luminda, by Danehill, Rhythm of Light is trained by Thomas Dascombe for owners Deal, Lowe, or Silver. Hermes Services is the winning breeder. Rhythm of Light was making her first United States start.
"I told the jockey she’s going to be slowly away from the American horses, so don’t ask her after the jump (break)," Dascombe said. "She’s got one run, and he (Gomez) got a nice, clean run at them, and she won well."
Dascombe, 39, from Bristol, England, said Rhythm of Light would remain in the U.S. with trainer Simon Callaghan, "and I wish her all the best of luck."
This was Dascombe’s first time at Santa Anita.
Rhythm of Light last raced at Veliefendi in Turkey, winning the International Instanbul Trophy (Tur-II) Sept. 1 by half a length. It was her second time competing in that event. She finished second last year.
She began the year in Dubai, where she was unplaced in two starts before shifting to Great Britain in the spring. She won once, at Haydock in the 32red Conditions Stakes, from three tries there.
She was the 124-pound high weight in the Goldikova, previously the Las Palmas, yet was dropping eight pounds off her effort in Turkey.
Rhythm of Light improved her overall record to 6-2-1 in 17 appearances while banking $403,659.
She paid $6.80, $4.60, and $3.40 while topping a $28.80 exacta. A Jealous Woman returned $5.40 and $3.80. Vivo Per Lei paid $4.40 to show.
"She did everything like a class filly should, and she proved she was today," Gomez said. "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 up, she picked up great and came home nice. I didn’t have to ask her for too much."
I Dazzle finished fourth, followed by Hard to Resist, Byrony, andLet's Go Cheyenne.
Let's Go Cheyenne set the pace before weakening while recording splits of :23.14, :47.23, and 1:10.42.