Tuscan Evening rallies to Monrovia victory

Tuscan Evening was the class of the field as the 121-pound highweight (Benoit Photo) William de Burgh’s TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) justified her 3-2 favoritism in Sunday’s $100,000 Monrovia H. (G3) at Santa Anita, splitting rivals in the stretch and driving to a one-length score. The Jerry Hollendorfer mare reeled off about 6 1/2 furlongs on the firm downhill turf in 1:12 2/5 and returned $5, $3.40 and $2.80 to her supporters. As expected, Pasar Silbano (Ire) (Elnadim) barreled to the early lead through fractions of :21 1/5 and :43 1/5. Lucky Copy (Unbridled’s Song) pressed the pacesetter in second, while Tuscan Evening was well placed in third by Rafael Bejarano, and Empressive Lady (Empire Maker) chased in fourth. Swinging into the homestretch, Pasar Silbano was accosted by Empressive Lady on the outside, and Tuscan Evening muscled her way between them. Although the favorite had to work to see off the 41-1 shot Empressive Lady, Tuscan Evening stuck on resolutely to confirm her superiority.

“It was an ideal trip,” Hollendorfer said. “She sat behind horses and won
willingly.”

“She’s the best filly I’ve got right now on the turf,” Bejarano said. “She
loves it. I was very confident, even though I could see the number six (Pasar
Silbano) made an easy lead. When you ride the best horse, you can do anything
you want.”

Czechers (Indian Charlie), the 47-1 longest shot on the board, got up late to
grab second by a neck from Empressive Lady. The runner-up, who was wisely
scratched from Saturday’s nine-furlong San Gorgonio H. (G2) in favor of this
spot, gave back $30.20 and $13.80. Empressive Lady furnished $15.20 to show.

With the two biggest longshots finishing second and third, the $1 exotics
ballooned to $105.10 (exacta), $2,358.70 (trifecta) and $14,356 (8-1-10-6
superfecta). Pasar Silbano, the 7-2 second choice, salvaged fourth by a head
from the rallying Royal Taat (NZ) (Faltaat). Hermione’s Magic (GB) (Systematic)
checked in sixth, followed by Reba is Tops (He’s Tops), Lemon Chiffon (Lemon
Drop Kid), Queen ofthe Catsle (Tale of the Cat), Lindelaan (Rahy) and Lucky
Copy.

Tuscan Evening’s victory vindicated Hollendorfer’s decision to drop her down
in distance, with the plan of using the Monrovia as a prep for the January 31
Santa Monica H. (G1) over seven furlongs on Pro-Ride. The five-year-old bay made
her mark chiefly as a miler last season, garnering the Royal Heroine Mile (G2),
Las Palmas H. (G2) and Redondo Beach S. and finishing second in the November 28
Matriarch S. (G1) last time out. Tuscan Evening had previously tried Santa
Anita’s downhill turf four times, winning a maiden and allowance and placing
third in both the Las Cienegas H. (G3) and Senator Ken Maddy H. (G3).

Formerly based in Ireland with John Joseph Murphy, Tuscan Evening placed in
four stakes as a juvenile in 2007, chief among them the Debutante S. (Ire-G2),
without managing to break her maiden. At three, the bay crossed the wire a close
second in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), just a head back of Halfway
to Heaven (Ire), only to be disqualified and placed fourth. Her scorecard now
reads 22-7-4-5, $639,408.

Bred by Hascombe and Valiant Studs in the Emerald Isle, Tuscan Evening was a
bargain $8,762 yearling at Tattersalls October. She most recently went through
the auction ring at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in November, fetching a bid of
$650,000.

Tuscan Evening was produced by Park Hill S. (Eng-G3) runner-up The Faraway
Tree (Suave Dancer), who is herself a half-sister to French Group 1 winner
Sasuru (Most Welcome [GB]) and English Group 2 heroine Sally Rous (Ire) (Rousillon).
Tuscan Evening hails from the family of Rose Gypsy (GB) (Green Desert), queen of
the 2001 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) (Fr-G1), and
English Group 2 victress Crystal Capella (Cape Cross [Ire]), most recently
runner-up as the defending champion in the October
17 Pride S. (Eng-G2) at Newmarket.