Public Assembly (More Than Ready) scored her first black-type in the GIII Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita!
Coming into the race off a victory last out Mar. 30 against local optional claimers in her first jump for her new connections, the chestnut was bet down to 8-1 odds as ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Raw Ability (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) commanded the lion’s share of attention as the 9-5 favorite. With that undefeated filly her immediate neighbor, Public Assembly settled well to the inside of runners after the gate break while the public choice stepped up to stalk the pacesetter.
Comfortable in midpack behind :22.71, :46.23, and 1:10.99 splits, she was patiently handled on the final bend as the field closed ranks and was set loose in upper stretch while the pace started to catch up to the leaders. Muscling clear of competition passing the eighth pole, Public Assembly surged away from any would-be challengers in the late stages to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Stablemate Sun Of Hill (Brz) (Camelot Kitten), who completely blew the break when she hopped in the air, put in a very respectable showing from dead last to claim second as Sneaker (Oscar Performance) overcame checking off of heels to claim third.
“Last time she won and she was coming off a layoff and was going long,” said winning rider Antonio Fresu. “She won really easily. I told Phil right after she should run in a stakes right away.”
“I was very confident today. The only bit of concern was it might be a little too short for her at a mile. I had a great break from the gate and a great trip saving ground. She felt, really, really comfortable, even better than last time. She was traveling beautifully all the way around. I was just waiting for a gap. As soon as she saw the gap, she took off. It was impressive.”
Co-Owner Bing Bush of Abbondanza Racing said, “Phil and his barn have done a wonderful job with her. After she won her last race, we were kind of thinking that she might want to go a little bit longer, but Phil said, ‘You know what? I think a mile will suit her just great.’ We thought we would give it a try and my gosh, I think she can go the distance and get a mile. I just can’t believe it I am so excited.”
“She kind of put it on the last time. The pace this time wasn’t quite as fast as I thought it be, but it was a decent pace and she was up closer to it this time. She had a bit coming home, and she was amazing to watch. Just unbelievable.”
Pedigree Note:
Public Assembly is by the late great More Than Ready, who was a worldwide phenomenon as a stallion with champions on both hemispheres and 232 stakes winners. His prowess extended beyond just being a sire, but he’s also counted as a sire of sires and leading broodmare sire.
Out of Enchanting Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), a full-sister to MGSW Csaba and SW & GISP Kitten’s Queen, the victress is the mare’s first winner ahead of Advantes Road (Jpn) (Munnings) in Japan, who was sold in utero when his dam changed hands for $100,000 to JS Company at KEENOV in 2021. Since then, the mare has produced a now juvenile filly by Silver State (Jpn) named Brave Kitten (Jpn) and a yearling colt by Saturnalia (Jpn). Her full-sister Kitten’s Queen has also been exported to Japan and is the dam of MSP Today Is the Day (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Public Assembly is an ELiTE graduate, she was purchased out of the Keeneland November HORA Sale in 2024.
Article taken from The TDN 4/26: https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/public-assembly-leads-home-long-odds-trifecta-in-royal-heroine-upset/
