Starspangledbanner Filly Records Second Stakes Win On Return

Group-winning juvenile Laulne (3f Starspangledbanner – Lady Francesca, by Montjeu) recorded her first win for new connections in the Sunday’s Listed Angels Flight Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Starspangledbanner filly completed a hat-trick of wins for Yann Barberot in the Group 3 Prix Six Perfections last July, and after placing in another two Group races, sold to Mandore International for €750,000. Now trained by Philip D’Amato for a partnership including Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta, she dropped back to six and a half furlongs on her first start of the year and was ridden to track the leaders by. Producing a challenge approaching the final furlong, she dug deep in the closing stages to lead on the line.

“I really liked her grit and determination,” D’Amato later said of the winner. The Starspangledbanner filly was bred by Franklin Finance out of the black-type Montjeu mare Lady Francesca.