Pearl Tiara and Fernando De La Cruz pulled away from the field for an impressive upset in the 13th running of the $75,000 Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Stakes, Filly Division, at Indiana Grand Wednesday.
The duo covered the one and one-sixteenth mile event in a time of 1:45.6 to score their second consecutive victory in 2021.
Starting from post three, Pearl Tiara (photo) broke well to get into early position as Found My Man and Sammy Bermudez set the early tempo. The leader was joined by Pearl Tiara at the midway point for a challenge with Pearl Tiara taking over in the final turn of the race.
In the stretch, De La Cruz asked Pearl Tiara for another gear and she responded, posting an eight and three-quarter length advantage at the wire. Diamond Solitaire and Alex Achard finished second with Verry Amelia and Santo Sanjur rounding out the trifecta.
Pearl Tiara paid $13.80 for the win. The homebred daughter of Majestic Harbor is now two for three in 2021. Overall, she has three wins in nine starts and increased her career bankroll to more than $119,000.
Pearl Tiara was born and raised by David Osborne, Loren Hebel-Osborne and Carol Hebel at their Deerfield Farm in Prospect, Kentucky. The sophomore filly is by their stallion, Majestic Harbor, who stood at Swifty Farms in Indiana before relocating to California.
Both Pearl Tiara and Diamond Solitaire, the second-place finisher in the Hoosier Breeders Sophomore Filly Stakes, were part of Osborne’s breeding operation and have grown up together.
Diamond Solitaire, who lost her mother two weeks after she was born, has truly shined on the track, nearing the $100,000 mark in earnings.
“Having Pearl (Tiara) and Diamond (Solitaire) finished one-two in the stakes race for Majestic Harbor is a thrill,” said Loren Hebel-Osborne. “And, this is the first time Pearl has beaten Diamond. We saw Diamond start moving toward her and thought she might catch her, but Pearl said, ‘not today.’ And, it marks the first stakes winner for Majestic Harbor.”
Majestic Harbor was named Leading First Crop Sire in California last year. The latest tag of stakes winning sire also makes him the current Leading Second Crop Sire for California as well.
“He earned leading first crop sire in California without a stakes winner,” said David Osborne. “Although it’s based on his Indiana foals, it is determined in the state where he currently stands.”
The Osbornes still have Pearl Tiara’s dam, Pearl Pendant, and she is currently in California back in foal to Majestic Harbor. In addition to sharing “jewelry-themed names,” both Diamond Solitaire and Pearl Tiara also share space when at the Deerfield Farm.
“These two spent the winter together and were in the same paddock and same barn,” added David Osborne. “So, they are very familiar with one another.”
Majestic Harbor’s first crop consisted of 10 foals, nine of which were fillies, including Diamond Solitaire and Pearl Tiara. Tim Glyshaw trains Pearl Tiara, who is not the first representative for the Osbornes. Glyshaw also trained Unreachable Star, second on the list of All-time Leading Indiana Sired money earners with more than $784,000 in career earnings.
