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Acoma stays unbeaten on turf in Mrs. Revere

Acoma is living up to her blue-blooded pedigree (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) Helen Alexander and Helen Groves' ACOMA (Empire Maker) made her first significant impression at Churchill Downs last May with a half-length decision in the Dogwood S. (G3) over a mile on dirt. Nearly six months later, Acoma demonstrated that her future might be even brighter on turf with a comfortable 1 1/4-length score in Saturday's $201,950 Mrs. Revere S. (G2) at the Louisville, Kentucky, course. Tracking in midpack for the opening six furlongs, Acoma angled out for running room turning for home and closed fastest of all to notch her third graded stakes triumph of the season. Under Julien Leparoux, the 5-2 second choice in a field of 11 three-year-old fillies returned $7.20, $4.20 and $3.40. A game performance was turned in by My Baby Baby (Bernstein), who led until the final furlong after repelling several challenges during the course of the race. Setting fractions of :24, :47 3/5 and 1:12 1/5, My Baby Baby pulled clear by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go, but did not have enough to hold off Acoma, who completed the 1 1/16 miles on firm ground in 1:43 2/5. My Baby Baby returned $9.20 and $5.40 at 8-1 and capped the $55.20 exacta. Scolara (Quiet American) rallied from near the back to gain third, one length behind the runner-up, and brought back $6 at 8-1. The trifecta paid $233.80.

Absolutely Cindy (Arch), the longest shot in the field at 50-1, was 1 1/2 lengths farther back in fourth and completed the $4,864.40 superfecta (3-1-5-6). She was followed under the wire by 7-5 favorite My Princess Jess (Stormy Atlantic), Seemingly (Orientate), Clear Pond (Dynaformer), Raw Silk (Malibu Moon), Sky Mom (Maria's Mon), Golden Doc A (Unusual Heat) and Dark Sky (Storm Cat).

Trained by David Carroll, Acoma made her career debut a third at Fair Grounds in March before heading to Keeneland and capturing her first win by two lengths on the Polytrack. Once Keeneland's spring meet ended, the three-year-old proceeded to Churchill Downs, where she added an allowance score and the Dogwood to her line. Given a two-month break, Acoma reappeared next in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Belmont, running a well-beaten fourth, then was second in the Monmouth Oaks (G3). She made her turf debut in last month's Valley View S. (G3) at Keeneland, where she got up late for a half-length score. She now owns an 8-5-1-1, $390,260, record.

To say the Kentucky-bred Acoma descends from a strong female family would be an understatement. Her dam, stakes winner and Grade-3 placed Aurora (Danzig), has also produced Grade 1 winner Arch (Kris S.) and UAE Horse of the Year Festival of Light (A.P. Indy), as well as Arch's stakes-winning full brother Alisios. Acoma's second dam was 1983 champion two-year-old filly Althea (Alydar) and her third dam, Courtly Dee (Never Bend), was named Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1983. This female family has produced numerous stakes winners, including Grade/Group 1 conquerors Balletto (UAE) (Timber Country), Ali Oop (Al Hattab), Ketoh (Exclusive Native), Aldiza (Storm Cat) and Green Desert (Danzig), as well as Japanese champion filly Yamanin Paradise (Danzig).

Acoma has a yearling full sister named Asian Empress and a weanling half-sister by Bernardini.

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