Brill made her turf debut a winning one when captured the eight-furlong Lady of Shamrock Stakes by one-and-three-quarter-lengths at Santa Anita Dec. 28.
It was the first Stakes victory for the three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who had previously been third in both the G1 Chandelier and G3 Fantasy Stakes.
Ridden confidently by jockey Mike Smith, Brill was sent to the lead along with Angel Alessandra and Sold It. Brill took a slight lead after the first furlong, quickly opening up by a length on the rest of the field. She continued to show the way into the far turn, as Angel Alessandra attempted to rally.
Brill continued to hold onto her lead through the stretch under a brisk hand ride from Smith, eventually crossing the wire an easy winner over Keeper Ofthe Stars. Angel Alessandra faded late and finished fifth.
Brill was bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables and was purchased for $1 million by OXO Equine LLC at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Brill is out of the Stakes winning Malibu Moon mare, Hung The Moon, and hails from the family of Stakes winners, Sigrun, Mindy Sue and Whimsy.
Medaglia d’Oro is the sire of eight northern hemisphere Graded Stakes winners in 2019, including Cambier Parc (G1 Del Mar Oaks and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup), Higher Power (G1 TVG Pacific Classic), Elate (G2 Delaware Handicap, G2 Fleur de Lis), Fools Gold (G3 Waya), Café Americano (G3 Pucker Up), Majestic Eagle (G3 American Stakes), Golden Award (G3 Turnback the Alarm) and Marzo (G3 Sycamore).
Medaglia d'Oro will stand the 2020 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for a fee of $200,000, stands and nurses.
