Kentucky-bred Sacred Wish held off a charging Gina Romantica to take down top prize in the Matriarch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on Sunday, Dec. 1. Owned by Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn, and Anthony Spinazzola, Sacred Wish is trained by George Weaver.
With John Velazquez aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Not This Time tracked Ag Bullet, the early leader, from third in the one-mile turf fixture. Roused approaching the quarter pole, Sacred Wish collared Ag Bullet with a sixteenth remaining. She hit the front and dug in late to hold off a rallying Gina Romantica by a neck at the finish. Sacred Wish covered the distance in 1:34.76. With the score, Sacred Wish added the winner’s share of $180,000 to her coffers, bringing her bankroll to $985,138.
Sacred Wish Gets Dream Trip
“Broke great,” said Velazquez. “I was hoping that she would break well. There were only two speed (horses) in the race. You know, she is a great horse. I thought she would take me farther down in the lane, and I could get her going along the turn. It worked out perfect. The horse on the lead took me where I thought. She pulled out and she had a nice kick to fight down the lane.”
Blair Golen, assistant to Weaver, said, “Ag Bullet just set it up perfect for her. She wasn’t going too fast, she was comfortable behind horses, and was able to go up the rail and it get it down this time. Johnny already had it in his head that instead of waiting for her, he was going to ask her to go and where she put herself is where she was going to be. He’s ridden her so well in the past. He gets along with her good and I’m just so happy he was able to come out and ride her.”
Bred in Kentucky by John R. Penn, Sacred Wish is produced from the Indian Charlie mare Indian Wish. In her previous outing, Sacred Wish finished third in the Goldikova Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. Prior to that, she was runner-up in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes (G3).