Jim Downey's Circle of Trust made history on June 1 at Santa Anita Park when she rallied down the lane to win the $101,000 Honeymoon Stakes (G3T).
There were seven entries in the 1 1/8-mile grass event for fillies aged three and up. Sea Dancer and rider Jeremy Laprida got off to a fast start, establishing a two-length lead at times of :23.21, :47.04, and 1:11.50.
After six furlongs, Circle of Trust and rider Antonio Fresu were in sixth place, around three lengths off the lead. Fresu angled four wide as she closed the gap on the leaders, asking the filly from Union Rags for her run in the far turn. Circle of Trust led a procession of closers to the top four positions, while the top three fillies after six furlongs all faded in the lane.
Phil D'Amato's Circle of Trust defeated Sakura Blossom, who was in second place, by a margin of 1 1/4 lengths.
"I think she won impressively," Fresu noted.
Faith Understood facing considerable traffic on the long turn into the stretch, rider Mike Smith overcame it to finish third, a further 1 3/4 lengths behind. On firm turf, the winner's time for 1 1/8 mile was 1:48.40. She spent $8.20.
Circle of Trust is the half-sister of grade 1 winner West Will Power and the unraced Tapit mare Open House. Gary and Mary West bred the winner in Kentucky.
2012 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Union Rags stands at Lane's End in Versailles, Ky. His stud fee for 2024 is $15,000.