Amorama, left, beats Ticker Tape by a nose to win the Del Mar Oaks.
Amorama, who had finished behind favorite Ticker Tape in all six of her North American starts and was 19-1, nipped that one on the line to win the Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon.A French-bred filly by Sri Pekan out of the Alzao mare Tanzania, Amorama came from fifth at the eighth pole to win by a nose over American Oaks (gr. IT) winner Ticker Tape. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles over the Del Mar turf course was 1:46.26.Owned by Naify and Woodside Farms, Amorama is trained by Julio Canani and was ridden by David Flores, who was dumped by the winner as they attempted to enter the winner's circle."She's been unlucky many times," Flores said of Amorama. "I just wanted a good, clean trip in the end -- she had the talent to go. We were fortunate nobody got in her way."It was the Bob Baffert-trained Western Hemisphere who took the early lead in the Del Mar Oaks, tracked intently by Seducer's Song. Ticker Tape, under Kent Desormeaux tracked in third while tucked in close to the hedge with Sweet Win to her outside.Seducer's Song poked a nose in front as they neared the final bend, but Western Hemisphere re-took the lead, getting six furlongs in 1:13.40. Desormeaux swung Ticker Tape out on the turn, then grabbed the lead in early stretch. She opened up on the field at the eighth pole, but Amorama was running under full steam while clear and wide. She caught Ticker Tape in the final stride. Sweet Win finished third.Amorama won twice in France as a 2-year-old for trainer Maurice Zilber before heading to Southern California. In six straight finishes behind Ticker Tape, Amorama started out by finished fourth in the Miesque Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park last Nov. 28, while Ticker Tape was second. She then ran third, then second, respectively, in the China Doll and Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita. Both races were won by Ticker Tape.They met three times at the Hollywood Park meet. Amorama was third in the Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) while Ticker Tape was second; was fifth in the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) while Ticker Tape was fourth; then was fifth, beaten four lengths by Ticker Tape in the American Oaks.Amorama returned $40.60, $13.20, and $5.40. Ticker Tape paid $4, $2.60, while Sweet Win paid $3.40 to show. The $1 6-2 exacta returned $61.40.Amorama now has a mark of 3-1-1 in 12 career starts and her $180,000 first place purse bumps her earnings to $276,729.(Chart, Equibase)
