Opus Forty Two Second Winner of Day for Mendelssohn
It was a two-winner day in Florida for Mendelssohn on Saturday with Opus Forty Two (2f Mendelssohn x Laquesta, by Lemon Drop Kid) winning at Tampa Bay just a few hours after his Gulfstream Park winner.
Making her third start, the Mark Grier-owned filly raced in fourth for the first quarter of the six-furlong race before taking the lead soon after. There was no stopping her from there with Opus Forty Two continuing to build her margin to have 4 ¾ lengths on the field at the wire to become the 22nd winner for her sire.
Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Opus Forty Two was a $185,000 yearling purchase by Ben Gowans from Paramount Sales at last year’s Fasig-Tipton July Sale.
She was bred by Rose Hill Farm and John Trumbulovic out of the dual winner Laquesta. That mare is out of a half-sister to Mendelssohn’s Grade I-winning studmate Cupid and Grade III winner Ashley’s Kitty among others. Laquesta herself is a half-sister to Grade III placed Glacial.
Twenty-two winners ties Mendelssohn for third by winners among freshmen sires this year with that group led by the Grade II winner Delight.