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Where’s My Ring breaks maiden in grand style in Gazelle

Apr 06, 2024 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Where's My Ring wins the Gazelle S. at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography)

Santa Anita-based Where’s My Ring traveled to Aqueduct for an opportunity over 1 1/8 miles in Saturday’s $200,000 Gazelle (G3) Aqueduct, and the cross-country trip was worth it. The Val Brinkerhoff pupil earned an overdue first career win and banked 100 points toward the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Meanwhile, back home in the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2), Nothing Like You roared back to top form and upset odds-on Kinza, giving legendary jockey Frankie Dettori his fifth straight win on the card. Her victory prompted a clever comment from track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, who noted “There’s nothing like you, Frankie Dettori.”

Gazelle (G3)

Michael McMillan’s Where’s My Ring was most recently along for second in the March 9 Santa Ysabel (G3), no match for the front-running Kinza going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. Hence instead of trying to secure an Oaks spot in the same conditions in the Santa Anita Oaks, her connections decided to ship for a more congenial spot in the Gazelle. The betting public agreed, sending her off as the 2.55-1 favorite.

Where’s My Ring relished the added ground, and a better break at Aqueduct also helped her cause. With new pilot Jose Lezcano aboard, the daughter of Twirling Candy lay much closer to the pace than she had been at Santa Anita. Where’s My Ring stalked just off Carmelina and Regulatory Risk, then swept to a resounding 4 1/4-length decision.

The Gazelle’s 100 points were already enough to get Where’s My Ring into the Oaks, and combined with her 25 from the Santa Ysabel, she has 125 in her account.

“I’m ecstatic to get a chance like this,” Brinkerhoff said of bringing a trainee to the Kentucky Oaks. “I come from the bush tracks in Utah, and to get to do this is pretty awesome.”

McMillan, still a rookie owner, emphasized what it means to challenge in the Oaks.

“It's not about breaking the maiden – we wanted to be in the Oaks,” McMillan said. “That was our goal.

“I just got into horse racing, I met Val and Kelly Brinkerhoff and I told them ‘I'm not in this for little races, we are in it for the big races.’”

Regulatory Risk was a clear second by 5 1/4 lengths, adding 50 points for a total of 55. Jockey Dylan Davis suggested that she’s likely better cutting back to a mile. Her connections already have a higher-profile Oaks candidate, Ways and Means, who hopes that 50 points will be enough to get into the field.

Gin Gin took third, good for a clutch 25-point haul that now gives her 66. Whocouldaskformo checked in fourth (15 points that doubled her total to 30), and Life Talk rounded out the top five (10 points for a total of 29). Next came Barbratina, Carmelina, Princess Vino, and Munny Grab. Six Pack Senorita was scratched.

Where’s My Ring clocked 1:50.33, almost equaling the time of 1:50.28 posted by Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Resilience in the Wood Memorial (G2) later on the card. Although she had not won before, Where’s My Ring had gone close in three maiden races, and her Santa Ysabel placing proved that she had graded-caliber ability. Her scorecard now stands at 8-1-3-1, $202,620.

Bred by Don Alberto Corp. in Kentucky, Where’s My Ring sold for $100,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The bay is out of the Tapit mare Mapit, who is herself a half-sister to stakes scorer Merlazza and multiple Grade 3-placed Gold Standard. This is also the family of Shidabhuti, the third-placer in last year’s Gazelle who won Saturday’s Distaff (G3) at Aqueduct, and Grade 1 hero Majestic Warrior (sire of 2013 Kentucky Oaks star Princess of Sylmar).

Santa Anita Oaks (G2)

Nothing Like You and Kinza are both trained by Bob Baffert, whose horses are ineligible for points because he is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. Thus the Kentucky Oaks implications are minimal, with the biggest points earner being Corposo in third (25 points). Kopion, the 2.30-1 second choice, faded to fourth (15 points for a total of 35), and Ifuaintfirsturlast, representing the connections of Where’s My Ring, picked up 10 points for trailing in the five-filly field.

But the Santa Anita Oaks will be remembered for the blockbuster performances turned in by Nothing Like You and Dettori. A 7-1 chance after her disappointing fourth behind Kinza in the Feb. 10 Las Virgenes (G3), Nothing Like You was nestled just off the pace. But the 1-2  favorite Kinza wasn’t imposing her will as much as expected. Kinza looked vulnerable as recent maiden winner Corposo ranged up turning for home.

At the same time, Nothing Like You was just cruising and looking for an opening. A tiring Kinza drifted off the fence, and Dettori drove Nothing Like You into the gap. The Malibu Moon filly stormed through to dominate by 7 1/2 lengths in 1:43.21, contributing to a banner day for Dettori.

The renowned international reinsman intended to retire at the end of last season, but reversed himself in order to winter at Santa Anita. On Saturday, he went on a tear that evoked memories of his “magnificent seven” – when Dettori famously swept all seven races at Ascot on Sept. 28, 1996. Dettori nearly matched that feat here. Extending his streak to six in a row in the next race, he went for seven in the Monrovia (G3), but finished third on Get the Money.

Campaigned by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio, and John L. Rogitz, Nothing Like You improved her record to 8-4-1-0, $423,160. Her prior stakes wins came in the Desi Arnaz S. and Starlet (G2). Nothing Like You was produced by multiple stakes winner Miss Derek, by Brother Derek.

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