Christine a Rising Star
(16th January 2010)

Strikingly marked filly Christine Daae (3f Giant’s Causeway x Descapate, by Dehere) blasted her rivals to win at Gulfstream earning a TDN Rising Star tag for her efforts.

Fourth when making her debut at Hollywood back on July 9, the Patrick Biancone trained filly was immediately rested and given time to develop, re-emerging as a formidable force.

Settling in third place on the outside, Christine Daae dropped her rivals cold in the straight racing away to win the seven furlong maiden by eight and three-quarter lengths in the time of 1:21 3/5.

A big powerful chestnut, Christine Daae owes her name to an unusual marking on her head explained Patrick Biancone to TDN.

“She is a chestnut, OK? But on the left side of her face, she has a big white mark, like a mask. I called my owners and I said, ‘Listen, she has a mask, like the Phantom. We cannot call her Phantom, because that's not right for a filly, but Christine Daae is a beautiful girl from the Phantom of the Opera, so we should try that.’”

Christine Daae will be given the chance to get over this run, but then connections will be looking at Black Type with her, the Group Two Davona Dale Stakes on February 27 put forward as a possible target.

“With the Giant's Causeways, when they are good, they are really good--like him,” Biancone remarked.

“She got everything from the father, and the mother was a good horse, too. She's well-bred.”

Christine Daae is from the stakes-winning Dehere mare Descapate, a half-sister to another stakes-winner in Tres Coronas.

Purchased for $100,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by pinhooker Don Graham, she was later sold privately for $400,000 to Biancone and runs for Michael Imperio and Kona Stables LLC.

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