Kentucky-bred Cavalieri remained undefeated in four lifetime starts and recorded the initial Grade 1 victory of her career with a win in the $300,000 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on Saturday, March 8.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Cavalieri pressed the early pace of stablemate Richi (CHI) through fast fractions of :22.56 and :46.24 for the opening half mile. On the far turn, Hernandez asked Cavalieri for more. She engaged the pacesetter and the two battled through the lane together. Cavalieri pushed past her rival in deep stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Richi at the wire. The winner covered the one-mile distance in 1:34.96 for trainer Bob Baffert.
“We always knew she would be a superstar,” Baffert said of Cavalieri. “I’m proud of both horses. That was racehorse time.”
Hernandez said of the winning trip, “My filly gave me another gear at the eighth pole, and she won the race. She is getting better, and she showed that today.”
Cavalieri Returning Dividends for Speedway Stables
Cavalieri is a 4-year-old Nyquist filly owned by Speedway Stables. Bred in Kentucky by Alastar Thoroughbred Co., LLC, she was purchased for $900,000 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training. Cavalieri won her debut in August at Del Mar and came back and annexed an allowance at Santa Anita in October. She then captured the La Canada S. (G3) at Santa Anita in January.
Peter Fluor of Speedway Stables said of his undefeated filly, who is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed Stephen Got Even mare Stiffed, “Marette Farrell, who helps us as a bloodstock agent, loved her physical. Her breeding, well Nyquist speaks for itself. Kind of beyond that you just kind of keep your fingers crossed. K.C. Weiner, my partner, and I are obviously thrilled with this victory today.”