Golden State Series: Fran’s Valentine Stakes

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SUPER PATRIOT SEALS VALENTINE WITH A KISS

BY TRACY GANTZ

Margaret Booth and Fran’s Valentine never met on the racetrack. A year apart, the two mares competed during the same era of the mid-1980s, primarily in Southern California.

Fran’s Valentine’s many victories include the 1985 Kentucky Oaks (G1), and she became one of the fnest California-bred distafers of all time. Tough a Kentucky-bred, graded stakes-placed Margaret Booth had her own California roots. Ray and Fran Stark bred her out of Careless Notion, who was named California Broodmare of the Year in 1989 and produced Cal-bred champions Fabulous Notion and Cacoethes.

Tus it was ftting that Super Patriot, whose third dam is Margaret Booth, captured the $100,500 Fran’s Valentine Stakes at Santa Anita June 6. Super Patriot descends from one of California’s leading breeding programs, being a third-generation bred by John Harris’ Harris Farms. She is by perennial leading California sire Unusual Heat and out of the Redattore mare Patriot C. H., a half sister to Harris homebred graded winner Lucky J.H.

Tis wasn’t Super Patriot’s frst time in the spotlight. Kim McCarthy’s McCarthy Bloodstock consigned her to the 2017 Barretts May 2-year-old sale, where Super Patriot sold to George Bolton for $195,000 as the highest-priced flly of the sale.

Bob Bafert trained Super Patriot early in her career for Bolton and several partners. She earned good money in the allowance ranks, primarily on turf. Last June when in for a $35,000 claiming tag, Super Patriot found another partnership eager to see what she could do. Trainer

© BENOIT PHOTO

Super Patriot delivers Fran’s Valentine to Little Red Feather partnership and trainer Richard Baltas at Santa Anita

Richard Baltas claimed her for himself, Little Red Feather Racing, Ray Salvatore, and Jeremy Peskof. Jose Cruz Ramos is now also a part-owner.

“I was one of the underbidders,” said Billy Koch of Little Red Feather. “I loved her at the sale.”

Koch credited Baltas with claiming Super Patriot.

“He had always really liked her,” said Koch. “He had watched all of her races. She was in Bafert’s care, but she was at Los Alamitos. Richie thought that maybe she just needed a change of scenery.”

Super Patriot won two allowance-optional claimers in her frst two starts for her new connections. She then ran third in the Swingtime Stakes and second in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes and Megahertz Stakes (G3T). A rough trip in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) cost her all chance of a placing prior to the Fran’s Valentine at a mile on the turf.

Tis time Super Patriot had hot jockey Flavien Prat aboard. In against stakes winners Warren’s Showtime, Pulpit Rider and Hollywood Hills; 2019 Fran’s Valentine winner Cordiality; and stakes-placed Sedamar, Super Patriot went favored at 3-2.

Cordiality set a leisurely pace, which meant Super Patriot, running last early, would have plenty to do. She did it spectacularly, rallying in the stretch to defeat Sedamar by 1 3 ⁄4 lengths in 1:35.66. Warren’s Showtime fnished third.

“She’s not easy to deal with, but she is special,” said Baltas. “She’s got a great turn of foot. Tey were walking, but she was of the bridle and looked very comfortable.”

Baltas stables 5-year-old Super Patriot at San Luis Rey Downs, which helps settle her down, said Koch.

“She just blossomed,” Koch said. “Sometimes it takes horses a while to mature and become the horse that maybe they were meant to be all along. Tankfully, Richie has patience.”