CYPRESS, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2023) – Longshot Madison Rae held off odds-on favorite Loretta Lynn to give her freshman stallion, Pavel, his first stakes winner in Sunday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos.
Madison Rae, one of three starters bred by Reddam Racing, went wire-to-wire under jockey Edwin Maldonado. She is out of the Scat Daddy mare Tafetta, is owned by CYBT, Rafter JR Ranch, STD Racing Stable and Michael Nentwig and trained by Peter Miller.
“Edwin on the lead is very, very hard to run down,” said Miller, who had three winners on the card. “When I saw the splits I felt pretty good. She was very game and tenacious. I thought the favorite (runner-up Loretta Lynn) looked tough and I thought it wasn’t an easy race, but I thought if this filly could get clear and make an easy lead she might get brave. Sometimes everything works out.’’
She has two wins in four starts, earnings of $109,940 and was coming off a sixth in the Nov. 3 Golden State Juvenile Fillies.
Loretta Lynn was second and Asada Fries third in the five-horse field. Madison Rae ran the mile in 1:38.52 and won by one-half length at odds of 9-1.
“She broke great, relaxed perfectly and I was able to walk the dog,” said Maldonado. “I pushed the button when she switched leads turning for home and she responded.’’