Denali Sales Graduate YAHILWA Earns G3 Status

Despite a troubled start out the gate, Yahilwa recovered and fought hard to win the G3 Sixty Sails H  on Saturday at Hawthorne Racecourse. The 5YO mare is by Medaglia d’Oro and sold with Denali for $52k at the Keeneland September sale in 2011. Last may she came close to winning her first graded stakes in the G3 Adoration S and led the whole way, but couldn’t keep Let Faith Arise at bay and came second. Her career earnings to date are $369,892. 

From the Thoroughbred Daily News (4/19/15):

California invader Yahilwa overcame some early adversity to post an impressive score here. Drawn on the fence in this field of five, the bay stumbled leaving the stalls and was subsequently hard held in the early stages while a bit keen while racing in a tight spot in fourth. She tugged her way to race just off the pacesetter Parc Monceau (Giant’s Causeway) in second, reached even terms as they straightened for home and kicked clear late to win going away. “I know that she stumbled pretty good at the start, but it might have helped”, trainer James Cassidy said. “Elvis [Trujillo] got her back quickly. She was pretty sharp, keen to go, so I expected her to be right there with the early leaders. But, she recovered and everything was good.” He continued, “We don’t have much for her at Santa Anita until June, so we might go to Pimlico.” Yahilwa was acquired for 45,000 gns at the 2013 TATHIT sale by Gordian Troeller Bloodstock after beginning her career in Britain with trainer James J S Tate, winning two of 12 starts. She finished first or second in five of 12 tries for these connections last term, including a heartbreaking second in the GIII Adoration S. at Santa Anita last May and a win in Delta’s Treasure Chest S. in November. Sixth in the GII Bayakoa S. at Los Alamitos Dec. 6, Yahilwa was last seen finishing a well-beaten seventh in the GII Santa Maria S. in Arcadia Feb. 14.

 

1–YAHILWA, 118, m, 5, by Medaglia d’Oro
1st Dam: Verbanella, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Special Gift, by Seattle Slew
3rd Dam: Smart Angle, by Quadrangle
($52,000 yrl ’11 KEESEP; 68,000gns 2yo >12
TATAPR; 45,000gns HRA 13 TATHIT). O-D P
Racing; B-Avalon Farms, Inc (KY); T-James M
Cassidy; J-Elvis Trujillo. $90,000. Lifetime Record:
26-6-3-4, $369,892.

2–Awesome Flower, 118, m, 6, Flower Alley–
Formalities Aside, by Awesome Again. ($45,000 yrl
’10 FTMOCT). O-Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey; B-Dr
& Mrs Thomas Bowman, Milton P Higgins III & Three
Chimneys Farm LLC (MD); T-M Maker. $30,000.

 3–Ketel Twist, 113, f, 4, Dixie Union–Frozen Treat, by
Dynaformer. ( $70,000 yrl ’12 KEEJAN; $150,000
yrl ’12 FTSAUG; $120,000 HRA 14 KEENOV). O-Bed
Rock Stables LLC; B-SyBon Racing Stable LLC (KY);
T-Michael J Maker. $16,500.