Watchtower Chases Down Medoro in Autumn Miss Stakes

The Oct. 27 $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park proved to be a race of firsts. It was the first stakes race—and win—for Watchtower, the first graded stakes win for her sire Demarchelier (GB), and the first graded stakes win for jockey Diego Herrera. After late rallies came up short her last two times out, Watchtower chased down favored Medoro to edge her by a nose at the wire in the one-mile contest for 3-year-old fillies. "She is getting better," said trainer Richard Baltas. "With that being said, she got a good setup. Diego gave her a good ride. She's kind of a one-paced filly. I told him, 'Don't rush her.' She broke really well, but he did a great job getting her to settle down. I think last time (in a Sept. 29 allowance optional claimer) she was a little too close because there wasn't much speed in there. You can't really change her style. She tries really hard. She has a lot of grit. I think she has a future." Watchtower stopped the clock in 1:34.35. Paying $19.80 for a $2 win ticket, Watchtower and Herrera were content hanging in the pack, which early on wasn't very close. Wine On Tap shot out of the starting gate and eventually opened up an eight-length lead. She held the forward position until fading as she approached the stretch. As Wine On Tap was swallowed up by the rest of the field, Tahini and Sneaker jockeyed for the lead. But Medoro charged up the middle to take control. Herrera swung to the outside with Watchtower tracking down her rival and catching her at the end. "It's pretty exciting, I wake up every morning and work hard," Herrera said of his first graded stakes triumph. "These are the moments I dreamt about as a little kid and now I get to live them so I'm excited." Medoro was followed by Zona Verde (IRE) in third and Sneaker in fourth. Owned by Abbondanza Racing, Omar Aldabbagh, and Michael Iavarone, Watchtower improves to 3-2-0 from five starts this year with $124,360 in earnings. For her career, the dark brown filly is 3-2-1 from seven starts and $134,860 in earnings. Abbondanza Racing's Bing Bush, Jr. said, "Absolutely unbelievable, for Medallion racing, Omar Aldabbagh, our partners on Watchtower and for Diego winning such a great race with her. Ritchie has done just a great job with her. This time we had a little pace and we were able to close into it and it worked out perfectly. Diego rode an amazing race. It could not have been more exciting. … We're just over the moon." She was sold to Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock, agent, for $310,000 out of the ELiTE consignment at the 2024 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale. Watchtower was bred by White Birch Farm. Demarchelier stood this year at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky., for $7,500.