It was a debut winner for MASTERY on Saturday night when the Sean McCarthy-trained Midnight Memories won a Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita.
The filly broke well in the 6 ½ furlong race before allowing others to take the early lead for her as she settled a few lengths behind the pacesetters three paths off the rail. Juan Hernandez gave her the cue to go as they entered the far turn and by midstretch, she had the lead and was gaining momentum.
In the end, Midnight Memories won by 1 ¼ lengths with the third placed finisher nine lengths behind the runner-up and the fourth-place finisher nearly 20 lengths behind the winner.
Owned and bred by Michael Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, the filly had clocked three straight breezes in March while also catching the eye in her latest works.
Midnight Memories is a second generation homebred for her owners, who raced her granddam Tough Tiz’s Sis to two Grade 1 wins with the eight-time winner also placing in three other Grade 1 events.
Tough Tiz’s Sis’s best runner is Midnight Memories’ Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed dam Tiz Midnight.