The First Lady S. (G1) at Keeneland is fast becoming a key race. Not long
after First Lady winner Forever Together (Belong to Me) captured Friday’s
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), Ben McElroy’s ROSHANI (Fantastic Light),
seventh in the First Lady in her last start, proved a half-length best in the
$250,000
Las
Palmas H. (G2) at Santa Anita. The near 6-1 second choice in a field of 13
fillies and mares completed one mile on a firm turf in 1:34 1/5 under John
Velazquez.
Roshani raced in midpack early, just a few lengths off the contested pace.
Moujane (Alphabet Soup) had a narrow advantage over Bahama Mama (Ire)
(Invincible Spirit) through the initial quarter in :22 4/5, but Bahama Mama then
asserted herself while reeling off a half in :46 3/5. Gotta Have Her (Royal
Academy) in turn collared Bahama Mama as they reached six furlongs in 1:10 1/5
and drove to a half-length lead in midstretch.
Gotta Have Her could not maintain her position, however, for Rosinka (Ire)
(Soviet Star) ranged up and thrust her head in front, and Roshani was just
getting into gear even wider out. Rosinka and Roshani engaged in a stretch duel,
with Roshani proving the stronger in the final yards. The winner yielded $13.80,
$7.40 and $6.
Rosinka, at 9-1, returned $9.60 and $7.20 for her much improved. She finished
three-quarters of a length ahead of Lemon Chiffon (Lemon Drop Kid), who rallied
from far back to grab third and paid $8.60 at 12-1. Black Mamba (NZ) (Black
Minnaloushe), the 7-5 favorite, trailed for the opening six furlongs and could
do no better than seventh.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Roshani added to her previous scores in the
Gallorette H. (G3) at Pimlico in May, and the 2007 Matchmaker S. (G3) at
Monmouth Park. The five-year-old improved her mark to 13-7-2-1 with earnings of
$481,300.
Bred by Mill Ridge Farm and Jamm Ltd., the Kentucky-bred is out of the
unraced Deputy Minister mare Sahibah, who is herself a half-sister to multiple
stakes winners Songlines (Diesis [GB]) and Binalong (Known Fact). This is the
family of Grade 2 queen Kumari Continent (Kris S.) and this year’s La Habra S.
(G3) heroine Passion (Came Home). Roshani has an unraced juvenile half-brother
named Cullinan (Johar) and an unnamed yearling half-brother by Eurosilver.