The Fiorente (IRE) filly Baronova came from last to score a last stride win in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s Listed Belmont Classic (2200m) at Belmont Park.
Give a patient ride by Willie Pike, Baronova made her run down the centre of the track. In a slogging finish, the Justin Warwick-trained filly defeated the Reliable Man gelding Truly Reliable by a short-head with a short-half-head back to the only other filly in the race Chili Is Hot (Gingerbread Man), in third. After three consecutive wins, Baronova blotted her copybook when a disappointing sixth at her most recent start in the Belmont Oaks won by Chili Is Hot.
Justin Warwick said the daughter of Fiorente (IRE) can be forgiven for that run.
“It was a very exciting race. A small field and we were last in a slowly run race, so it was always going to be hard,” Warwick said.
“I’ll be honest, even at the 150m, I thought we were going to finish fourth or fifth. The others started to get a bit tired, and Willie lifted her over the line.
“I don’t think anyone else would have lifted her, especially considering he dropped his whip at the top of the straight; that is how strong and talented he is.
“She got flattened in the (Belmont) Oaks, and she didn’t pick up. It looked ordinary, so they have to come out and show they are up to it, especially against the colts.
“I think she is a great filly going forward. I think she will have a good career on the east coast at some stage over the longer trips and she will run two miles at some stage as her dad did.
“I will be taking a break (from training) for a bit, so there’s nothing like going out on a high.”
A homebred for the Vam Heemst family’s Lynward Park Stud, Baronova is a half-sister to the Group III WATC La Trice Classic winner I’m Feeling Lucky (Bletchley Park) and the multiple stakes-placed Utgard Loki (Frost Giant).
Baronova is out of the unraced Danehill (USA) mare Twinkle Toes, a three-quarter sister to Sumora (IRE), the dam of Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe (Galileo), the dam of Coolmore Stud’s Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas and Group 1 Racing Post Trophy winner Saxon Warrior.
Purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock for $72,500 at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale, Twinkle Toes is a half-sister to the dam of Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes winner Awesome Rock and Group III BTC Doomben Roses and Group 1 placed Awesome Planet.
The dam of Twinkle Toes, Band Of Angels (Alzao), is a half-sister to Epsom Derby winner Dr Devious (IRE), Group 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Shinko King (JPN) and Group III Greenlands Stakes winner Archway (IRE), who all became successful stallions.
Twinkle Toes has a yearling colt by Manhattan Rain named American Songbook and a weanling filly by More Than Ready (USA).
Baronova becomes the seventh stakes-winner for Widden Stud’s Melbourne cup hero Fiorente (IRE), who stands at a fee of $11,000 at the Victorian property this spring.
