July 24, 2020 - Ellis Park, Race 6, Msw, USD $37,000, 6F
1st Dam: Cara Marie
2st Dam: Miss Kilroy
2st Dam: Miss Caerleona (Fr)
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables LLC
Breeder: China Horse Club International Limited (KY)
Trainer: Dale L. Romans
Girl Daddy, sent out by the same connections that have used the Pea Patch in recent years as a springboard to launch the careers of graded stakes-winning juveniles Not This Time (Giant's Causeway) and Dennis' Moment (Tiznow), turned heads on debut Friday to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. The $500,000 KEESEP buy displayed a fairly unassuming Churchill worktab for a typically patient conditioner, but took some tote attention to be off at 9-5-longer than only fast-working fellow firster Malibu Bird (Malibu Moon). Flat-footed at the start, the grey rushed up in between rivals down the backside and was all the way up into third while wide rounding the turn. She ranged up three deep off of the favorite's flank hitting the top of the lane, sustained that rally to wear down Malibu Bird in upper stretch and kicked away impressively while geared down to score by a promising 5 1/2-length margin in 1:11.20. The winner is the second foal and first to race out of Cara Marie, a $460,000 KEESEP yearling herself who took a turfy stakes race at Indiana Downs and was a close third at long odds in the 2015 GII Lake George S. at Saratoga. Cara Marie sold for $650,000 in foal to Speightstown at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. She most recently produced a colt by Quality Road in 2020. Cara Marie is half to the SW/GSP dam of UAE GSW and G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen runner-up Comicas (Distorted Humor); and 2010 G1 Darley Irish Oaks runner-up Miss Jean Brodie (Maria's Mon). Girl Daddy is bred on the same Uncle Mo-Unbridled's Song cross as recent GIII Los Alamitos Derby winner Uncle Chuck.
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