This week will be hectic for trainer Phil D'Amato as Stronghold prepares for the Kentucky Derby (G1). Still, he keeps winning at Santa Anita Park, where he is based. On April 27, Uncorked won the Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T), marking her maiden run under the trainer's guidance.
The 5-year-old mare was expertly guided by jockey Frankie Dettori for D'Amato and owner Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group. For the mile turf event, nine distaff horses were entered, with Bellabel, trained by D'Amato, leading the way. She completed the first quarter-mile in :22.57, while Uncorked, who started off the rail and eventually moved inside, settled into sixth.
Dettori stated afterwards that D'Amato had informed him that Uncorked "jumps quickly so make sure you get cover and get her to relax."
That is just what she did, which meant that she was ready to go when the rail opened up, turning for home "like the Red Sea," Dettori said. Uncorked and Dettori seized the lead right away, cutting wide and going through on the fence as Justique, Scam, and the favourite Stay were slugging it out in the middle of the track.
In 1:34.06, Uncorked raced to the front and won by two lengths. Justique came in second, one and a half lengths ahead of Scam and Stay.
"When Frankie asked her, she responded," said Julie Witt, assistant to D'Amato. "She is an Australian-bred and they are known for their sprinter/milers down there and they have a heck of a turn of foot."
In her home country of Australia, Uncorked started her career as a modest winner in nine starts between late 2021 and early 2022. Under the guidance of Brittany Russell, Uncorked made seven starts at four different tracks on the East Coast last year, winning twice, and finishing third in the Aqueduct Racetrack's Forever Together Stakes on November 19. That was her final appearance before becoming the Royal Heroine.
"When she got out here, she got pretty sick of us, so it kind of delayed her California debut for a while," Witt said. "But once we got her right, she didn't miss a beat."
Mr. A. Galbraith bred Uncorked, a daughter of Pierro out of the Iffraaj mare Piaf. Piaf is a winner and a half sister to group stakes-placed Maythehorsebemagic. The second dam is multiple group winner Arletty.