On a weekend in which top performances by top 3-year-old fillies made the headlines, Spendarella joined the short list of North America's top sophomore distaffers with a powerful victory in the Del Mar Oaks (USA-G1). The win was her third in a graded stakes and her first at the Grade/Group 1 level, following an impressive performance at Royal Ascot. She did not win the Coronation Stakes (ENG-G1) there, running second to Inspiral, but Inspiral has since stamped herself as something very special with a good second against older fillies and mares in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (ENG-G1) and a victory against males in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay Le Buffard Jacques Le Marois (FR-G1). That Spendarella has accomplished what she has while shipping back and forth across the Atlantic and across the North American continent says something for the Karakontie filly's adaptability and attitude as well as her speed and talent.
Spendarella's dam Spanish Bunny has established herself as a very good broodmare indeed, having previously produced 2015 American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Spanish Queen (by Tribal Rule), now a broodmare in Japan. She is also the dam of Spendarella's full sister Spanish Loveaffair, winner of last year's Pebbles Stakes (USA-L) and Grade 2-placed. Spanish Bunny's most recent foals are the unraced 2020 Destin filly Spanish Destiny and a 2022 colt by Uncle Mo.
Spanish Bunny herself won only one of her 20 starts, but her sire Unusual Heat made quite a name for himself as a regional sire in California. A multiple stakes winner in Ireland, the son of Nureyev and the Danish champion Rossard led the California state sire list six consecutive times and gained particular note for his grass runners, which include Grade 1 winners Acclamation, The Usual Q. T., and Unusual Suspect.
None of Spanish Bunny's siblings achieved anything of particular note, but she has some good bloodlines in back of her. Her dam Spanish Beam, a half sister to multiple Puerto Rican stakes winner Denuncia (by Royal Merlot; dam of 2014 Puerto Rican champion 2-year-old male Unificador, by Harbor Master), is a winning daughter of multiple English and Irish champion El Gran Senor out of the winning Majestic Light mare Solar Beam. Solar Beam, in turn, is out of the winning Roberto mare Sunerta, a half sister to four stakes winners including 1983 American champion older male Bates Motel (by Sir Ivor) and 1986 San Antonio Handicap (USA-G1) winner Hatim (by Exclusive Native). Their dam Sunday Purchase (by T. V. Lark) is out of Dame Fritchie (by Count of Honor) and, thus, a half sister to another four stakes winners including 1971 Hopeful Stakes winner Rest Your Case (by Traffic Judge).
At this point, Spendarella seems unlikely to cross swords with her fellow headline makers, as dominant Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner and near-certain American champion 3-year-old filly Nest appears to be headed to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1), with or without a tilt at older dirt fillies and mares before then, while runaway Queen's Plate winner Moira may be headed next to the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie in an attempt to take the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown; if she goes there and succeeds, the Breeders' Stakes and a sweep of the triple will be her next target. Spendarella's next move is less clear-cut; the Graham Motion trainee could challenge older turf fillies and mares in her next race, or she could point toward the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (USA-G1) Presented by Dixiana at the Keeneland fall meeting. Regardless, her glass slipper seems to be fitting well, and it can be hoped that midnight doesn't strike too soon on her racing career.
Spendarella's dam Spanish Bunny has established herself as a very good broodmare indeed, having previously produced 2015 American Oaks (USA-G1) winner Spanish Queen (by Tribal Rule), now a broodmare in Japan. She is also the dam of Spendarella's full sister Spanish Loveaffair, winner of last year's Pebbles Stakes (USA-L) and Grade 2-placed. Spanish Bunny's most recent foals are the unraced 2020 Destin filly Spanish Destiny and a 2022 colt by Uncle Mo.
Spanish Bunny herself won only one of her 20 starts, but her sire Unusual Heat made quite a name for himself as a regional sire in California. A multiple stakes winner in Ireland, the son of Nureyev and the Danish champion Rossard led the California state sire list six consecutive times and gained particular note for his grass runners, which include Grade 1 winners Acclamation, The Usual Q. T., and Unusual Suspect.
None of Spanish Bunny's siblings achieved anything of particular note, but she has some good bloodlines in back of her. Her dam Spanish Beam, a half sister to multiple Puerto Rican stakes winner Denuncia (by Royal Merlot; dam of 2014 Puerto Rican champion 2-year-old male Unificador, by Harbor Master), is a winning daughter of multiple English and Irish champion El Gran Senor out of the winning Majestic Light mare Solar Beam. Solar Beam, in turn, is out of the winning Roberto mare Sunerta, a half sister to four stakes winners including 1983 American champion older male Bates Motel (by Sir Ivor) and 1986 San Antonio Handicap (USA-G1) winner Hatim (by Exclusive Native). Their dam Sunday Purchase (by T. V. Lark) is out of Dame Fritchie (by Count of Honor) and, thus, a half sister to another four stakes winners including 1971 Hopeful Stakes winner Rest Your Case (by Traffic Judge).
At this point, Spendarella seems unlikely to cross swords with her fellow headline makers, as dominant Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) winner and near-certain American champion 3-year-old filly Nest appears to be headed to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1), with or without a tilt at older dirt fillies and mares before then, while runaway Queen's Plate winner Moira may be headed next to the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie in an attempt to take the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown; if she goes there and succeeds, the Breeders' Stakes and a sweep of the triple will be her next target. Spendarella's next move is less clear-cut; the Graham Motion trainee could challenge older turf fillies and mares in her next race, or she could point toward the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (USA-G1) Presented by Dixiana at the Keeneland fall meeting. Regardless, her glass slipper seems to be fitting well, and it can be hoped that midnight doesn't strike too soon on her racing career.
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