After just missing graded stakes victories in her previous two starts, Fanticola nailed down her first graded stakes win Saturday June 27 at Santa Anita Park when she just held off Queen of The Sand in the stretch of the $201,000 Royal Heroine Stakes.
Anthony Fanticola and Joseph Scardino's Fanticola was a close second in both of her previous starts, finishing a neck behind Hard Not to Like in the Gamely Stakes May 25 and a nose behind Queen of The Sand in the April 18 Santa Barbara Handicap. But in her third straight graded stakes try on the Santa Anita turf, Fanticola would not be denied, turning the tables on runner-up Queen of The Sand with a neck victory.
After pressing Birdlover through a half-mile in :48 seconds, Fanticola shadowed the early leader into the stretch under regular rider Joe Talamo. Trained by Phillip D'Amato, Fanticola took command in mid-stretch and had just enough to hold off the 2-1 favorite's late surge. The 5-year-old Silent Name mare completed the one-mile race in 1:36.76 on firm turf.
Fanticola has been consistent throughout her career, only finishing off the board once in her 17 starts that includes five victories.
Fanticola returned $10.20 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.40 to show. Queen of The Sand paid $3.60 and $3 to place and show while Stormy Lucy paid $6 to show.
Bred in Ontario by Hedgestone Management and Frank Mermenstein, Fanticola is out of the stakes-placed Tabasco Cat mare Catalina Cat, who has produced four winners from as many starters.