Faufiler quickens best in Modesty

The Niarchos Family’s homebred Faufiler can find herself too far behind off a fast pace at around a mile, but the stretch-out to 1 3/16 miles in Saturday’s $125,000 Modesty (G3) implied that she might secure better early position. That’s exactly how it turned out for the 8-5 favorite, who had too much finishing speed for her rivals in Arlington’s course-and-distance prep for the Beverly D. (G1).

As a daughter of supersire Galileo and 2003 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) heroine Six Perfections, Faufiler has quite a pedigree to live up to – and a change of scenery to Graham Motion in the US has helped. You can insert the obligatory Main Sequence analogy here, albeit with the caution that the parallel is a bit of a stretch at this point.

Faufiler was decent enough in France. In addition to landing a pair of listed stakes, the 2014 Prix Casimir Delamarre and 2015 Prix de Montretout, she also placed to Fintry and Avenir Certain in last summer’s Prix Bertrand du Breuil (G3) and to the useful male Fractional in the Prix Messidor (G3).

Although disappointing in her first two American appearances in the fall, Faufiler just needed time to acclimate. The bay made a winning 5-year-old debut in the February 27 Sand Springs at Gulfstream, flying from last to get up in time. She nearly pulled off the same last-to-first act in the May 5 Royal Heroine (G2) at Santa Anita, but came up just a half-length short. It was more difficult for her to make up ground in the June 11 Just a Game (G1), but she reported home a creditable fifth.

Motion accordingly prescribed a step up in trip, and voila. Well placed by Jose Valdivia Jr., Faufiler was nestled on the inside within comfortable striking range through slow fractions of :24.79, :50.66, and 1:15.19 on the firm course. The sedate early tempo indicated that the Modesty would turn into a flat-out sprint to the wire, and none of her rivals here had her closing kick. Surging past long-distance specialist Al’s Gal en route to overtaking 12-1 pacesetter Secret Someone, Faufiler scored by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:56.12.

Al’s Gal mastered Secret Someone by a neck to take second. With her proficiency over marathons, trainer Mike Maker and the Ramseys may want to try Al’s Gal against the boys in the American St Leger. No Fault of Mine was in an outside stalking path throughout, but never quickened in a one-paced fourth. French import Marypop likewise couldn’t lift her game in an even fifth. Firm ground might not be her preference, but she would have been better served to race closer to the pace too.

Faufiler’s scorecard now stands at 15-6-3-2, $359,427. She is the second graded/group winner produced by Six Perfections, who is also responsible for French Group 2 hero Planet Five. This is the further family of the legendary Miesque and her son, internationally renowned sire Kingmambo.

Quotes from Arlington

Jose Valdivia, Jr. (jockey, Faufiler, winner): “I had a great trip. This is probably one of the best bred horses that I’ve ever sat on and she was spot on she settled off slow fractions. When I called on her she had a turn of foot – I mean unbelievable –  so very excited to be on her.”

Graham Motion (trainer, Faufiler, winner): “I think by Galileo I think she’d handle the extra distance. It’s something I’ve wanted to do, so she did it pretty nicely.”

Corey Lanerie (jockey, Al’s Gal, second): "I did [get the trip I expected].  I didn't see a whole lot of pace in the race, so I thought we'd be laying close.  I didn't know who was going to try and push it -- it was [Secret Someone].  I was happy with my position all the way around there, except the final wire."

Robby Albarado (jockey, Secret Someone, third): “We talked about it in the paddock, if circumstances dictate and I have a shot, I’m going to go. I backed it up like I wanted, and I went easy enough so I tried to kick away and stretch it out. I just think she doesn’t want to go that extra sixteenth

Shaun Bridgmohan (jockey, No Fault of Mine, fourth): “I thought I had a good trip outside. There was no pace to run at which compromised our chance.”

Carlos Marquez, Jr. (jockey, Marypop, fifth): “I tried to ride her like they told me, keep her covered. There was no pace and this was her first time in the United States. I think she’ll improve off of this. The pace in here was different, maybe next time there will be more pace in the race and she’ll finish a lot better.”

Photo courtesy Four Footed Fotos