It has been a year filled with near-wins for Kirstenbosch.
The 4-year-old filly won her first race of 2023 but after that has been oh-so-close on numerous occasions. She had hit the board in three of her six subsequent races including a 1 1/2-length defeat in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) last time out.
Her competitive spirit wasn't about to let that happen again.
The daughter of Midnight Lute charged down the stretch with long, powerful strides overwhelming the rest of the field to win the 6 1/2-furlong, $101,000 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park Sept. 29. The final time was 1:15.37.
Trailing by 7 1/4 lengths early, jockey Hector Berrios brought her up along the rail to get back within reach of the leaders and swung her out six wide at the top of the stretch. That maneuvering gave her the room she needed to open up and display her strength.
"He's fantastic. (Trainer John Sadler) said to me a couple of races prior how he's got a nice soft touch on the horse; he allows the horse to get into stride and she's a really big filly. So she kind of needs that," said owner/breeder Keith Abrahams of Berrios.
Clearly Unhinged was second and favored Eda was third. Kirstenbosch paid $15 on a $2 win ticket.
