Authentic’s Brave Deb stays undefeated with Surfer Girl S. (G3) win

When Brave Deb won Sunday’s Surfer Girl S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park, the Spendthrift Farm homebred filly not only added to a big weekend for her sire, but also for the farm.

Spendthrift’s colors were carried to victory at Keeneland by Tommy Jo in the Darley Alicibiades S. (G1) Friday and by Ted Noffey in the Futurity (G1) Saturday. Also on Saturday, homebred Tamara, a daughter of champion Beholder, returned with a dominating win in the Chillingworth S. (G3) at Santa Anita.

Brave Deb, trained by Richard Mandello and ridden by Mirco Demuro, won her Sept. 5 debut at Del Mar at 10-1. Dismissed at similar odds on Sunday, the dark bay 2-year-old broke very alertly from post 8 to closely track Will Happen, who set a half-mile of :45.76. Will Happen opened up a three-length lead going into the final turn, but by the time she turned for home, Brave Deb was right along side the pacesetter. Brave Deb, under a hand ride through the stretch, easily held off Scratch It to win by a length in 1:35.40 for the mile on the firm turf.

“We were worried that the one that went to the lead would and it would turn into a sprint,” said Mandella. “We hoped our filly would settle, which she did. Mirco did a fabulous job with her.”

In her two wins, Brave Deb has earned $108,000. She is the second foal out of Nora’s Joy and is half-sister to Wilshire S. winner Tirupati (Mitole).