Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song) just kept on coming in the stretch to register a career high and key a 'TDN Rising Star' exacta in Saturday's GI Santa Margarita S. at Santa Anita. It was a length back to favored Taris (Flatter) in second.
“It was an exciting race and I'm very proud to get the Grade I for the owner [Stonestreet Stables],” Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. “She got a good trip and showed a lot of heart running down the favorite.”
Tabbed as a 'Rising Star' out of her lone start at two, the gray enjoyed mixed results as a sophomore. Second in three straight stakes attempts–including a nose defeat to subsequent champion Stellar Wind (Curlin) in the GII Summertime Oaks June 20–Tara's Tango went one better in an optional claimer at Del Mar Aug. 5. She was freshened after finishing 10th in the GI Cotillion S. at Parx Sept. 19.
Cut back in distance in her first two attempts off the bench, including a close third in the GII Santa Monica S. Jan. 23, Tara's Tango put it all together when stretched back out for the 1 1/16-mile GII Santa Maria S. here last time Feb. 13.
Penwith (Bernardini)–a last out winner of the GII Royal Delta S. at Gulfstream Feb. 13–set the pace here, but Gary Stevens was intent on keeping Taris just off her flank as Tara's Tango, blinkered for the first time, raced in the second flight. Tara's Tango began to advance down the backstretch while Penwith and Tara's Tango matched motors on a moderate pace. The chalk had that one's measure and went for home. Confidently ridden by Stevens into the final furlong, Taris gave whatever she had, but it was not quite enough, as Tara's Tango came charging on the outside to get the money in the dying strides.
“When [Martin Garcia] won on her last time [in the Santa Maria], he said she was running in spots and suggested the blinkers,” Hollendorfer explained of the equipment change. “They're just small ones, but they helped.”
Tara's Tango's dam Scarlet Tango, an $850,000 purchase by Stonestreet at the 2008 KEENOV sale, has a 2-year-old colt named Fireball Shot (Street Cry {Ire}) and a yearling colt by Tapit. She was bred back to Speightstown last year.
Barbara Banke's operation, of course, also made a big splash at last year's KEENOV sale, acquiring the runner-up's dam for $1.5 million.
Saturday, Santa Anita Park
SANTA MARGARITA S.-GI, $500,000, SA, 3-19, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 1/8m, 1:50.44, ft.
1–&TARA'S TANGO, 118, f, 4, by Unbridled's Song
1st Dam: Scarlet Tango (SP), by French Deputy
2nd Dam: Silver Tango, by Silver Badge
3rd Dam: Royal Tango, by Princely Pleasure
'TDN Rising Star' O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet
Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Jerry Hollendorfer; J-Rafael
Bejarano. $300,000. Lifetime Record: 10-4-3-1, $618,004. *1/2
to Visionaire (Grand Slam), GISW, $465,882; and Scarlet Strike
(Smart Strike), GSW & MGISP, $421,530. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus*.[bullet ad=”stonestreet-bredraised”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]
2–Taris, 118, m, 5, Flatter–Comedy, by Theatrical (Ire).
'TDN Rising Star' ($90,000 Ylg '12 KEESEP; $2,350,000 3yo '14
FTKNOV). O-Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith & John Magnier;
B-Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider (KY); T-Simon
Callaghan. $100,000.[bullet ad=”darbydan-shell”]
3–Living The Life (Ire), 118, m, 6, Footstepsinthesand+%28GB%29">Footstepsinthesand (GB)—
Colour And Spice (Ire), by Machiavellian. (€9,000 Ylg '11
GOOY1). O-HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing, LLC; B-Michael Begley
(IRE); T-Gary Mandella. $60,000.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.60, 0.90, 8.40.
Also Ran: Penwith, Moyo Honey. Scratched: Lavender Chrissie, All Star Bub.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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