PATTYS SAINT COMPLETES DISTAFF SWEEP BY WINNING THE GRADE 1 MILDRED VESSELS
Dunn Ranch’s Pattys Saint completed a sweep of the three richest races of the season for fillies and mares at Los Alamitos Race Course after dominating the running of the Grade 1, $125,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap here on Saturday night.
Pattys Saint (left) broke a step behind Jessica Cruz in the Mildred Vessels before accelerating to the lead about 50 yards into the race. It was all over from there, as Pattys Saint took control of the Mildred Vessels and cruised to the finish line to post a 1 ½ length victory. Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, the 6-year-old mare by Jess Got Easier covered the 400 yards in :19.595. Pattys Saint previously scored victories in the $100,000 Abigail Kawananakoa by ¾ lengths at 350 yards on June 15 and in the Grade 1, $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap by a ½ length at 400 yards on January 17. A 16-time stakes winner in her career, Pattys Saint also won the $60,000 Miss Princess Handicap here on May 5 and is unbeaten in her four starts this year.
“She’s impressive,” owner Matt Dunn (right with wife Bendi and daughter, Madison) said. “I don’t get nervous before many races, but I knew this race was important. We really wanted to win this and it’s just a special night. I’m thankful for the team, the groom, the trainer and jockey, the vet, my family, everybody. It takes a village to do this and to have a horse like it’s just so exciting tonight.”
Bred by Robert Harrison, Pattys Saint was also picking her second victory in the Mildred Vessels after winning this race back in 2022. She’s the first two-time winner of this event since Flare For Toby in 2000-2001 and only the fifth distaffer in history to win this race more than once. As a winner of this race, Pattys Saint also earned a presumptive berth to this year’s Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions.
“We’re looking forward to the Champion of Champions,” Dunn added. “When I bought her, I had high expectations but never anything like this. It’s just so special and thankful for everything with this horse. We’re just looking forward to the future, get through this year and then start making some babies.”
Dunn Ranch purchased Pattys Saint privately from the Harrison family at the end of 2023 and will surely become a top broodmare for her new owners after her racing career wraps up. As such, the Dunns must have some top stallions in mind for Pattys Saint.
“Yeah, I kind of do,” Dunn said with a smile. “There’s some different options, but I have some pretty good ideas.”
Now a winner in 21 of 29 career starts, Pattys Saint (left) has earned $474,402. Of that figure, she’s earned nearly half of that amount - $211,750 - in 2024.
Owned and bred by Ed Allred, Nymphette, who ran second to Pattys Saint in the 2022 Mildred Vessels, repeated that effort with a strong finish to run second once again. Nymphette, who came into this race after hard-fought victory in the Rolling A Ranch Matron Stakes on July 27, was seventh at the start of this race before flying in the final 150 yards to earn second place money. Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala for trainer James Glenn, Jr., the 5-year-old mare by Fly Thru The Fire earned $28,125 to take her career bankroll to $147,295.
Gary Laramie’s Jessica Cruz, who was second to Pattys Saint in the Abigail, had the lead at the start of this race, was the closest pursuer for most of this event, and just missed finishing second in the final yards. Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves for trainer Elena Andrade, Jessica Cruz finished a game third and earned $15,625 in the process. Bred by Double Bar S Ranch, the 4-year-old FDD Dynaty mare has earned $128,456 in her career. Fearless Moon, the 2023 AQHA champion 3-year-old filly, finished fourth and was followed by Frivolous, Remember Her, AJ Born Runnin, Jes An Angel, Phoebes Baby Girl, and Flash Of Sass.
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