Indigo River 2 for 2 in the U.S will look to keep her perfect record intact at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 Providencia Stakes
The 3-year-old Irish bred filly, Indigo River joined Mullins’ barn after posting a lone victory in her three starts in Ireland, and that one win was in the Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Roscommon racecourse, going over a distance of seven furlongs on turf
on 15 August, 2011, where she covered the seven furlong dash in 1 minute and 35.19 seconds.
Under Jeff Mullins’ training, Indigo River posted her second victory in an allowance/optional claimer at Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course at about six and a half furlongs on 13 January, 2012, where she went on to defeat Indecise in second and Lasso
from El Paso in third, covering the distance in 1 minute and 13.23 seconds.
The 3-year-old daughter of Kodiac, out of mare Sunny Slope by Astronomer, was sent as the 8 to 5 favourite to win the race, after her one and a half length victory over, Vionnet, in the 6 and a half furlong dash at Santa Anita Park’s turf course, the $73,950
Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in her previous start.
It was the filly’s U.S. debut, and Joel Rosario was aboard the filly, and he saddled the filly once again in her second start at Santa Anita Park.
The pair made their winning move on the far outside, stalking the leader and picked up pace at the right time to overhaul the leader under a vigorous hand ride to cover the distance in 1 minute and 13.36 seconds.
“Believe it or not, she kind of needed the first race we gave her here (on Jan. 13),” Jeff Mullins, who trains Indigo River. “That was our plan, to just give her a race and if she won, fine. But, man, she’s trained really well.
It is now time for filly to move on to graded stakes company, and her connections have chosen the Grade 2, $150,000 Providencia Stakes for her, for 3-year-old fillies at about 1 1/8 miles contested over Santa Anita’s turf course on 7 April, 2012.
Joel Rosario will again ride Indigo River in her next start. “She ran a little better today than she did last time out,” said Santa Anita’s leading rider. “I think when she learns how to relax, she will get even better. She’s a very nice filly.”
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