Linda's Gift © Benoit Photo
In racing parlance, it was a case of “walking the dog.”
Rider Tiago Pereira put his filly Linda’s Gift on the lead out of the gate in the 11-furlong Red Carpet Stakes, then stayed there all the way around through slow fractions that his mount found very pleasing en route to a three-quarter length victory in the Thanksgiving Day headliner at Del Mar.
The 4-year-old daughter of Arrogate covered the distance in 2:17.80 for trainer Richard Mandella and an extended ownership group headed by John Cronin, Anthony DiMarco and Michael Mandara. She picked up a first prize of $60,000 from the $101,000 gross on the Grade III feature and paid $7.80 to her backers as the second choice in the field of seven fillies and mares.
Finishing second was Michael House’s Musical Rhapsody, who had three quarters of a length on Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Sister Otoole.
Linda’s Gift increased her bankroll to $194,936 for her third victory in her 11th start. Two of those wins have come on the turf course.
Racing will resume at Del Mar on Friday with a first post of 12:30 p.m.
TIAGO PERIERA (Linda’s Gift, winner) – “I told the assistant (trainer, Tyler Cambra) in the paddock: ‘Last time I rode this filly (at Del Mar on Nov. 11 where they ran fourth), I was a bad jockey. This time I’m going to be a good jockey. They left me alone out there. That was fine with me. She was a runner all the way.”
RICHARD MANDELLA (Linda’s Gift, winner) – “I liked the looks of it all the way. I didn’t think they (the early fractions) were real. It’s hard to gallop her that slow. She looked like she was comfortable. I always thought she was good enough and she rose to the occasion.”
FRACTIONS: :26.00 :51.62 1:17.30 1:41.97 2:05.98 2:17.80
The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Pereira and his first in the Red Carpet. He now has 12 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Mandella and his first in the Red Carpet. He now has 75 stakes wins at Del Mar, fourth-most among all trainers.
The winning owners are John Cronin, Anthony DiMarco, Michael Mandara, Fred Nicotra and Vincent Varvaro.