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Acoma back to her best in Cardinal
As expected, the speedy Zaskar (GB) (Anabaa) barreled to the early lead and dictated fractions of :24, :48 2/5 and 1:13 2/5 while prompted by Leamington (Pleasant Tap). My Baby Baby (Bernstein) and 7-2 favorite Lemon Chiffon (Lemon Drop Kid) stalked on the outside, with You Go West Girl enjoying a ground-saving trip along the hedge. On the far turn, Lemon Chiffon launched a bold move and soon struck the front, but she was immediately challenged straightening up into the stretch. The first to accost her was My Baby Baby, who delivered her bid to the inside. The more dangerous rallies, however, were materializing wider out. As You Go West Girl angled out for room, Acoma was erupting down the center of the course for new rider Jesus Castanon. You Go West Girl and Acoma rapidly opened up on Lemon Chiffon inside the final furlong, and the two closers battled heads apart. You Go West Girl dug down gamely along the inside, but Acoma ultimately proved too strong. "I had a heck of a good trip around today," Castanon said. "I waited as long as I could before I made a move toward home. When I finally moved for home, she really had a great turn of foot. When we went around the turn for the first time she was in the bridle, but when we were on the backside she really began to settle in nicely and relax. She really just seems to love it here." You Go West Girl, the third choice at 9-2, returned $5.40 and $3.80 for her near-miss effort. Lemon Chiffon crossed the wire another 3 1/4 lengths back in third, yielding $3.20. The exotics were worth $54.80 (exacta), $269.40 (trifecta) and $1,240.20 (3-1-9-5 superfecta) with the 5-1 Long Approach (Broad Brush) in fourth. My Baby Baby faded to fifth, followed by Social Queen (Dynaformer), Leamington, Tizfiz (Tiznow) and Zaskar. The Kentucky-bred Acoma improved her overall record to 14-8-1-2, $665,999. Her love affair with the Twin Spires spans both dirt and turf. The first two of her Churchill scores came on the main track as a three-year-old in 2008 -- an entry-level allowance followed by the Dogwood S. (G3). Over the Matt Winn Turf Course at Churchill, Acoma captured the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) last fall and the Mint Julep H. (G3) in June, just holding on from Pure Clan (Pure Prize) in the latter. Acoma's versatility as a capable performer on both dirt and turf is reflected at other venues as well. Last season, she captured the Valley View S. (G3) at Keeneland in her turf debut, and finished second in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) on dirt. She started her 2009 campaign on a high note with a five-length romp in the Azeri S. (G3) at Oaklawn on dirt, but disappointed when beaten 11 1/2 lengths into third in a modest renewal of the Apple Blossom H. (G1). After her Mint Julep victory over Pure Clan, Acoma reverted to dirt for the lucrative Delaware H. (G2), where she retreated to an uncharacteristic last of six. Subsequent blood work revealed that something was amiss. Freshened for three months, Acoma returned in the grassy First Lady, only to wind up last of nine. Carroll believed that the soft ground may have contributed to that poor showing, her first loss on turf. To say that 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 and sire Arch (Kris S.) and U.A.E. Horse of the Year Festival of Light (A.P. Indy), as well as Arch's multiple stakes-winning full brother Alisios. Aurora is herself a full sister to Japanese champion filly Yamanin Paradise (Danzig). 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). Acoma has an unraced juvenile full sister named Asian Empress, a yearling half-sister named Amara (Bernardini) and a weanling half-sister by Dynaformer. "That's it for this year," Carroll said regarding plans for Acoma. "We'll shut her down and get ready for next year. We needed to see that race from her and why not? The Breeders' Cup is here next year. "This is a filly with a great pedigree, and we look forward to a big year next year."
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