Life At Ten back to winning ways in G1 Beldame
October 2, 2010
Life At Ten won her fourth graded stakes of 2010 with a daylight victory in the Beldame (G1) at Belmont Park on Oct 2. The same day, Malibu Moon sired his sixth Grade 1 performer on the year, when Moon de French placed behind Zenyatta in the Lady’s Secret S. (G1) at Oak Tree.
Life At Ten’s Beldame win was her fifth in six starts this year, her lone blemish coming when she was third in the Personal Ensign (G1) Aug. 29 at Saratoga. Five distaffers went postward in the $350,000 Beldame, including Persistently, who won the Personal Ensign, and the multiple graded stakes winner Unrivaled Belle. Queen Martha cut sensible fractions for the first six furlongs of the 1 1/8-mile Beldame, with Unrivaled Belle tracking in second, and Life At Ten a couple of more lengths back in third. John Velazquez took the chestnut mare three wide around Belmont’s sweeping turn. Queen Martha gave way, and Life At Ten wore down Unrivaled Belle in the final furlong, to win by two lengths, in time of 1:49.29.Her 100 Beyer Speed Figure is the second time she has hit the triple-digit mark in her career.
The $210,000 payday put Life At Ten’s bankroll over $1 million, making her the first seven-figure horse for her sire. Bred in Kentucky by Nickleback Farm, Life At Ten is now 16-8-5-2 and $1,149,267 for Candy DeBartolo.
At Hollywood, Moon de French ran an admirable race, finishing less than 5 lengths behind Zenyatta while carrying equal weight of 123 lbs. The 5-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon was coming off her inaugural stakes victory in the Adoration Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 5.
Malibu Moon has sired three Grade 1 winners on the year, co-best among all stallions in North America. He ranks third on the General Sires List, one of only four sires with progeny earnings in excess of $7 million. His six Grade 1 horses comprise a formidable arsenal: Life At Ten (Beldame and Ogden Phipps); Devil May Care (CCA Oaks and Mother Goose); Malibu Prayer (Ruffian Invitational); Funny Moon (3rd Ogden Phipps); Latigo Shore (3rd King’s Bishop); Moon de French (3rd Lady’s Secret).