Fastnet Rock Filly Graduates Down the Hillside

Spendthrift Farm's COVER SONG (f, 3, Fastnet Rock {Aus}) the first foal out of four-time Group 1 winner Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) tried the surface for which she was bred for the first time in Friday's fifth race at Santa Anita and, given a textbook ride by Flavien Prat, outran her favored stablemate Lori's Attitude (Temple City) to graduate by about 3/4 of a length. The attractive bay filly bounced away neatly from gate five and raced freely through the opening stages, but settled better once Lori's Attitude and Tyler Baze kicked on to lead clearly down the hill. Poised behind as they reached the dirt, Cover Song was pulled out into the two path, dueled with the chalk into the final furlong and prevailed following a long drive. Cover Song, a $450,000 purchase by B. Wayne Hughes's team out of the 2014 Keeneland September sale, made just one trip to the post at two, finishing a tailed-off seventh of nine behind TDN Rising Star and eventual 2-year-old filly champion Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro). A spectacular and champion sire of fillies such as champion Atlantic Jewel (Aus), Mosheen (Aus), Sea Siren (Aus), Driefontein (Aus), First Seal (Aus), etc.–in his native Australia, Fastnet Rock has made a significant impression with his Northern Hemisphere-sired crops, including 2015 G1 Investec Oaks upsetter Qualify (Ire) and G1 Pretty Polly S. victrix Diamondandrubies (Ire). Spendthrift's Australian arm has tasted success in Australia with Fastnet Rock's Group 3-placed daughter Cana (Aus). Cover Song's dam, a Group 1 winner in France and Ireland and third in the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, is represented by 2-year-old filly Roly Poly (War Front), who returned 10-1 when annexing a Naas maiden on debut Apr. 25. Misty For Me is also the dam of a yearling filly by War Front and foaled another filly by the Claiborne stallion Mar. 9. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0. O-Spendthrift Farm. B-Misty For Me Syndicate. T-Carla Gaines.[bullet ad=”taylor-made-tm-for-you”]