Printer Friendly Page 

Romacaca rocks in the Matchmaker

Romacaca streaked to her fifth straight win (Ryan Denver/Equi-Photo) Frank Carl Calabrese's ROMACACA (Running Stag) took over with about three furlongs to go in Sunday's $207,500 Matchmaker S. (G3) and rolled to her fifth straight victory, but first at the graded level. The 5-1 third choice completed the 1 1/8-mile contest over Monmouth's firm turf in 1:46 2/5 and returned $13.20, $5.80 and $4.40. The 5-2 favorite C. S. Silk (Medaglia d'Oro), who won the Just a Game S. (G1) at Belmont last out, was bumped and sandwiched at the start. Marquet Madness (Pico Central [Brz]) got out to an early lead and held it through the first three-quarters, with Romacaca stalking in second through fractions of :23 3/5, :47 and 1:10 4/5. Then Romacaca, with E.T. Baird up, got to the front entering the far turn. As Marquet Madness faded, Romacaca drew clear and held well by 1 1/4 lengths. "She broke really well," Baird said. "There were some others in there who had speed, so I just let her come out running. She relaxed well enough to have something left in the end."

Ravi's Song (Unbridled's Song) got the better of Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul [Ire]) by a nose for second, and No Explaining (Ire) (Azamour [Ire]) came home fourth. Rounding out the order of finish were Cherokee Queen (Cherokee Run), Christine Daae (Giant's Causeway), defending champion Unbridled Essence (Essence of Dubai), Dream Louise (Louis Quatorze), Marquet Madness and C. S. Silk.

Romacaca entered the Matchmaker with six minor stakes scores under her belt, including the April 24 Florida Thoroughbred Charities S. at Gulfstream Park, the May 21 Sara's Success S. at Calder and the July 3 Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth in her past three. Her notable graded stakes performances include a second in the Pucker Up S. (G3) and third in the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) in 2009, and a solid fourth in the 2010 Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington, the last time she was unable to crack the top three. The five-year-old mare's resume now reads 23-12-4-2, $598,092.

"She's a super nice filly to have," trainer Nick Canani said. "She raced great." 

Bred in Florida by Cashel Stud Inc., Romacaca twice failed to sell at OBS, RNA'ing for $5,000 as an August yearling again for $19,000 as an April two-year-old. She was the first foal out of her dam Romaca (Kris S.), whose latest registered offspring is an unraced juvenile filly named Good Mother Fran (Pavarotti).

Black type is thin on the ground under her first three dams, but Romacaca's fourth dam is Hail Maggie (Hail to Reason), an unraced full sister to Franco-American champion Trillion. Hail Maggie, herself the dam of Grade 1 hero Sabona (Exclusive Native), also factors as the ancestress of French classic winner Landseer (GB) (Danehill).

More Graded Recaps:

Bradester takes flight in Salvator Mile

Dogwood Trail leads to Azalea winner's circle

Grand Bili captures Carry Back

Big Blue Kitten regains United Nations title

Merry Meadow crowned in Princess Rooney

Send this article to a friend