Micheline kicked off her four-year-old season in style when posting a three-quarter length victory in the G2 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs March 6.
It was the first Graded Stakes win for the daughter of Bernardini, who closed out her sophomore season with a runner-up finish in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last October.
Although a little reluctant to load at the start, Micheline was all business once the gates opened, breaking alertly and quickly settling into a stalking position while racing in fourth early She then moved up to third on the far turn before sweeping past the leaders and taking command as the field entered the homestretch. Micheline continued to hold onto her advantage through the lane, easily repelling the bids of Morning Molly and New York Girl to win by three-quarters of a length.
Micheline was bred in Kentucky by her owner Godolphin, and is out of Panty Raid, winner of the G1 Juddmonte Spinster and G1 American Oaks Invitational. In addition to Micheline, Panty Raid is also the dam of the promising three-year-old colt Proxy (Tapit), who has placed in both the G2 Risen Star Stakes and G3 Lecomte Stakes in 2021.
Micheline was one of two Stakes winners of the afternoon for her sire, Bernardini. Less than 30 minutes after the Hillsborough, Bernardini’s three-year-old daughter, Farsighted, drew off in the stretch to win the Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
