Altaf made her Stakes debut a winning one with a convincing two-and-a-half-length victory over Gibberish in the Listed Lady’s Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park June 6.
The lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who entered the race on a two-race winning streak, may have been conceding experience to her rivals – she only had three starts under her belt – but she certainly made up for it in sheer talent, taking command at the top of the stretch and drawing off to win quite easily while under a hand-ride.
Bred in Kentucky and racing as a homebred for Shadwell Stable, Altaf is out of Fawaarek, a winning daughter of Smart Strike. Fawaarek’s dam, Golden Apples, captured such important races as the G1 Beverly D. and G1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes on her way to earning an Eclipse Award as Champion Turf Mare. Fawaarek is a half sister to both Habaya, winner of the G3 Miesque Stakes, and to the Graded Stakes-placed filly, Hatheer.
Altaf is the sixth Stakes winner for her sire Medaglia d’Oro in 2021. In addition to the Lady’s Secret winner, the stallion is led by multiple G1 winner Golden Sixty, Risk Taking (G3 Withers), Beautiful Gift (G3 Santa Ysabel), Moonlight d’Oro (G3 Las Virgenes) and New Trails (Listed Curlin Stakes).
Medaglia d'Oro is standing the 2021 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for a fee of $150,000, stands and nurses.
