Mendelssohn Filly Puts in ‘Rising Star’ Performance at Del Mar

It was a Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’-earning debut performance for Llorona (3f Mendelssohn x Wasted Tears, by Najran) on Friday when the filly romped to a 5 ¾ length victory in a Del Mar Maiden Special Weight.

Among the leaders early in the six-furlong sprint, she pressed for the lead throughout the backstretch run before clearing the challengers in the turn. She was asked for a little more by Flavien Prat as they flew past the quarter pole and showed why she went off as the heavy favorite in the stretch.

Prat continued his encouragement early in the stretch before letting up on the pressure near the wire as she coasted home 5 ¾ lengths in front.

Trained by Richard Mandella for owner and co-breeder Bart Evans and his son Robert Evans, Llorona was sold by her co-breeder Stonehaven Steadings for $750,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year.

Llorona is a half-sister to Mendelssohn’s Champion 2-Year-Old studmate Corniche and the multiple stakes placed Coffee Crush among her six winning half siblings from six to race out of multiple Grade II winning dam Wasted Tears.

Wasted Tears is a half-sister to two other stakes winners with each of Llorona’s first three dams not only winning at least one stakes race but also producing at least one stakes winner.

This is the second TDN Rising Star for Mendelssohn, whose 110 winners from his first two crops lead all North American second crop sires by nearly 20 winners. Among those winners are six stakes victors with 20 stakes performing runners.