Never better than sixth in three starts since relocating to the United States, Generosidade put on a show March 13 at Santa Anita Park in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes (gr. IIT).
Video: San Luis Rey S. (G2T)
The 7-year-old daughter of Nedawi owned by breeder Haras Philipson—off at 71-1—raced in eighth under jockey Tiago Pereira through the stretch the first time in the 1 1/2-mile event, began moving up in the backstretch, and improved to fourth entering the final turn.
Moving up on the rail, Generosidade took aim at front-runner Havanna Belle—who defeated her by 5 1/2 lengths last time out in the Astra Stakes Jan. 17—and angled out at the top of the lane, took command in the stretch, and pulled away to win by 1 1/2 lengths, ahead of 10-1 Quick Casablanca and 30-1 Energia Fribby, who completed the $6,197 trifecta.
"Generosidade was so good today," said Pereira, who celebrated his second graded win in the U.S. "We sat behind, we let the pace go, and the last three-eighths, I was able to get outside and get up to win it."
Generosidade raced in France before making her way to Southern California, but she was a group I winner in Brazil in 2013, also the year of her last win, in a Brazilian allowance at 1 1/2 miles.
Generosidade, trained by Paulo Lobo, hit the wire in 2:28.80 over a turf course rated good, after Havanna Belle set fractions of :24.18, :47.61, and 1:12.29 through six furlongs. The winner paid $144.80, $45.60, and $17.60 across the board. Quick Casablanca returned $11 and $5.60, and Energia Fribby brought $12 to show.
"She's a marathon horse," Lobo said. "She loves the distance and we were looking for a mile and a half."
Highball challenged for the lead early in the stretch, but tired late to finish fourth, followed by Power Foot, Gaga A, favored Big John B, Havanna Belle, Southern Freedom, and Going Somewhere, to complete the order of finish.
Generosidade was bred in Uruguay, out of the Quinze Quilates mare Xiang-Vi, and now has a 5-2-2 record from 17 starts, with earnings of $206,894.
