Santa Anita’s leading trainer Phil D’Amato has two 3-year-old fillies primed for next Saturday’s Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes, streaking Going Global and Majestic Steps.
Both bred in Ireland, Going Global is unbeaten in three races in the United States, all stakes, the Grade 3 Sweet Life, the restricted China Doll and the Grade 3 Providencia, advancing in distance each time from six furlongs to a mile and an eighth.
The Honeymoon will be decided at a mile and an eighth.
Majestic Steps broke her maiden in her first U.S. start back on Jan. 2 and has had eventful trips in each of her races here, including the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes last out on May 1.
“Going Global proved last time a mile and an eighth wasn’t a problem,” D’Amato said, speaking of the Providencia which the bay filly won by a neck despite being pinballed at the start.
“I gave her a bit of a freshening after three stakes wins in a row so I could have her ready for this race going into Del Mar.
“Majestic Steps is a hard-trying filly. If she can ever get her perfect trip, she has a chance, too, but Going Global is a more proven commodity at the moment.”
Majestic Steps’ trouble lines in her five U.S. starts read like something out of a trainer’s worst nightmare: “Bumped, checked twice, broke out, pinballed, three-wide turn, checked upper stretch and steadied.”
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