Cavalieri made the move into Graded Stakes company a successful one with a determined one-and-a-half-length victory over Alpha Bella in the $100,000 G3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday, 19 January.
The four-year-old daughter of Nyquist, who was making her first start of the year, entered the 8.5-furlong contest with two wins under her belt, the most recent coming in late October at Santa Anita.
Ridden once again by Juan Hernandez, Cavalieri broke alertly and went immediately to the front to contest the pace alongside G2 Chandlier Stakes winner, Chatalas. The duo matched strides throughout most of the early going before Cavalieri put that rival away at the quarter pole and took the lead. Cavalieri opened up some daylight on the field in the stretch, and was all business, digging in and turning back the late bid of Alpha Bella to win comfortably.
Bred in Kentucky by Alastar Thoroughbred Co. LLC, Cavalieri is out of the mare Stiffed, a multiple Stakes winning daughter of Steven Got Even and a half sister to multiple Stakes winners Speaking and Sea Streak. In addition to Cavalieri, Stiffed is also the dam of Affirmative Lady (Arrogate), winner of the G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and runner-up in the G2 Demoiselle Stakes.
Nyquist picks up in this new year where he left off at the end of the old one, with yet another Graded Stakes winner. The stallion is coming off a banner 2024, one which was capped off with his son, Johannes, winning his fifth Graded Stakes of the year in the G2 San Gabriel in December. Nyquist was also represented in 2024 by the undefeated and likely Champion Juvenile filly, Immersive, G1 Del Mar Debutante winner, Tenma, and G1 winner, Randomized.
Nyquist will stand the 2025 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $175,000, stands and nurses.
