Whether it’s the memory of her I-winning sister just five years ago in California or the ability she displayed when she broke her maiden October before shipping across the country for GIII Jimmy Durante S., Liguria (War front–Lerici, by Woodman) was on the favorites and in the spotlight when she crossed a whole field in the Del Mar bets for 2-year-olds on the grass. The Alpha Delta Stables runner was one of five of Jimmy Durante entering the race with a first win, and one of four to have previously been ridden by Flavien Prat, three in their most recent start. decorate my life (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who recently moved from Ireland, and Selling dreams (Munnings), second after Comanche Country (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) in GIII Surfer Girl S. October 9, fill in the trifecta.
Sent from the 11th stall, Liguria settled the outer and the middle pack. She was clear but was four wide on the first turn and didn’t save any points when the fractions were marked with : 22.52 and : 47.33 while Ami Please (Goldencents) pointed the way. Still clear, but five or six roads wide on the final turn, Liguria diverted, covered her ears and reeled in Ami Please with ease. Bay overcame a gap of 2 1/4 when Deco of My Life closed in from behind to chase her home and finish a front nose Sell Dreams in a tight shot.
Jose Hernandez, Chad Brown’s assistant, said: “We’ve always liked this. “She arrived at Del Mar in good condition; really well trained. She just did her job today. i told [Prat] my boss said just warm her up well and put her in a good position and start from there.
Brown won his second Jimmy Durante after the Fluffy Socks (Sleep {GB}) entered the race for him in 2020.
Prat won his first Jimmy Durante. Prat said: “She has traveled well and I am very confident. “When I rode her in New York, she showed me a great leg turn. I thought I would get it back today and it turned out that way.
A $275,000 Keeneland purchase in September for Steven W. Young – who also bought Avenge, her full GISW sister for $650,000 when Fasig-Tipton Saratoga aspired – Liguria began her career his runner-up on September 11 walked a mile on the pitch at Monmouth. She returned on October 22 in another special women’s weight class at the Belmont meet in the Aqueduct, extending by a sixteenth and winning by neck 3-1 when the first Prat boarded the train.
Genealogical notes:
Liguria was Lerici’s fourth horse by War front to start and is the third black category winner, after Avenge, a two-time GI Rodeo Drive S. winner, and ‘TDN’s Rising Star’ Pistoletto, GSP in the UK. Lerici also has SW & GSP Lira (Giant’s Causeway) and is produced by Tiz Law this spring. Black is rampant in this family and includes European champion Mark of Esteem (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), as well as GSW & GISP Chimichurri (Elusive Quality) – $2.1 million purchase la at Keeneland November 2005 – and her descendants, including Canadian champion Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) and GISW Hard not to love (Spin hard) and Secret Spice (Secret Cat). Lerici was covered by Uncle Mo for the next term.
Claiborne’s Star War front get the 60th winner with Liguria’s win, as well as the 109th black category winner worldwide. His 13 stake winners in 2022 include GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. winner of Keeneland, Annapolis, GIII John Henry Turf Championship S. Masteroffoxhounds winner, GIII Seagram Cup S. War Bomber winner (Ire) and GIII winner Eatontown S. Stolen vacation. Lerici’s graded Avenge and Liguria are Woodman’s only two bet winners as the parent sire of Lerici. War frontdespite a total of 235 black winners among his daughters.
Saturday, Del Mar
JIMMY DURANTE S.-GIII$103,500, Del Mar, 12-3, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.16, fm.
first-LIGURIA, 120, f, 2, by War front
First Dam: Lerici, by Woodman
2nd Dam: The Balinese, by Nijinsky II
3rd Strike: Homespun, by Round Table
FIRST BLACK WINNER, LEVEL 1 WIN STOCK WIN. ($275,000)
Ylg ’21 KEESEP). Stables O-Alpha Delta, LLC; B-Tada Nobutaka
(CZK); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $60,000. Whole life
Record: 3-2-1-0, $123,250. * Full for Pistoletto, GSP-Eng, SP-Ire,
$143,538; 1/2 to Lira (Giant’s Causeway), MSW & GSP,
$163,669; Full Set for Revenge, MGISW, $868,341. Nick works
Rating: C. Click to view eNicks report & pedigree 5 cross.
click for Free Equineline.com catalog style genealogy.
2-Decorate my life (Ire)120, f, 2, Mehmas (Ire)–Doris Marie
(Ire), by Creachadoir (Ire). BLACK TYPE NO. 1, CLASS 1
BLACK TYPE. (£82,000 Ylg ’21 GOFFUK). O-CYBT & Michael
Perennial tree bar; B-Tally Ho Stud (IRE); T-Simon Callaghan. $20,000.
3–Selling dreams120, f, 2, Munnings–Enayat Alsalam, by
Run and Hide. O-Edward Rusty J. Brown, Alan P. Klein &
Philip Lebherz; B-PT Syndicate #1 LLC (CA); T-Brian J. Koriner.
$12,000.
Handicap: 2 1/4, NO, NK. Ratio: 1.40, 20.20, 6.40.
Also included are: Ami Please, Ragtime Rose, Thebestisyettobe (Ire), Pallotta Sisters, Showgirl Lynne B, Quick Park It, Bizzy Gal, Jordan, Lollipop Gumdrop.
click for Equibase.com chart and TJCIS.com PP. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
