Lahudood, a four-year-old filly out of the prolific winning barn of Shadwell Stable, set her sights on a spot in the October 27th Breeders' Cup Distaff with a record breaking victory in the Sept. 29 $600,000 1-1/4 miles Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the stable would not have a problem in supplementing the filly if she is not Breeders' Cup nominated.
Record Setting First Grade I Win
In the Flower Bowl, Lahudood grabbed a time of 1:59.05, breaking the 1998 record of 1:59.33 set by Auntie Mame. In addition, she broke the five-race winning streak of Rosinka (IRE).
The turf at Belmont Park was dusty, but that didn't faze Lahudood, who seemed on a mission as she showed a good turn of foot entering the stretch. Jockey Alan Garcia took the filly through an opening on the rail and to the wire without hesitation.
Lahudood Waited for Opening
Rosinka had set the pace, running a :24.76 first quarter and reaching the half mile in :49.13. Wait a While held the second spot, while Lahudood stalkedin third position. When Garcia was ready near the sixteenth pole, Lahudood lifted off and landed alone on the other side of the finish line by three-quarters of a length.
Rosinka beat out Wait a While for second. Royal Highness, the Beverly D. Stakes (Arlington Park) winner, trailed and faded. Ireland's grade I winner My Typhoon finished a dismal eighth.
Lahudood owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum indicated he didn't want the filly to be an allowance race entrant, according to Shadwell Stable general manager Rick Nichols, McLaughlin stated.
The trainer said Lahudood's Flower Bowl race was the filly's first look at seeing everything set up perfectly for her chase to the wire and the winner's circle in a graded event. In her last race, the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park in August, the turf was rated good. Lahudood likes to "make a run on firm (apparently, dusty firm) ground" McLaughlin said.
Racing in France, Lahudood had picked up three placings in group (grade) stakes races. The Flower Bowl was her first grade I victory. Overall, her career improved to three wins in 11 starts. She increased her earnings to $545, 170.
Filly Could Be Supplemented to the Breeders' Filly and Mare Turf
A Singspiel (of Ireland) filly, Lahudood was bred in Great Britain and is out of Arazi mare Rahayeb. Arazi needs no introduction. Lahudood certainly has the breeding to be a contender among the best fillies and mares at the Breeders' Cup. Her likely race there, McLaughlin said, would be the Filly and Mare Turf.
