Vinery stallion Testa Rossa sired his first stakes winner in North America on Sunday when Blue Chagall won the Lure Stakes (LR) at Santa Anita.  The French bred gelding scored by three lengths over 1600m.

Blue Chagall (4g Testa Rossa – Eloisey by Pitskelly) defeated Australian bred gelding Gothic Samurai (Genuine) for his second Stateside victory.  He had won an allowance event for new trainer Julio Canani at Del Mar in August.

Testa Rossa sired Blue Chagall when he shuttled to France from his original base at Yallambee Stud in Victoria.

Blue Chagall was a G3 winner of the 2007 Prix des Chenes at Longchamp but took 8 starts before he broke through at Del Mar.  “He’s a different horse since I had him gelded,” Canani said on Sunday.

Winning jockey Garrett Gomez was also impressed with Blue Chagall.  “I was able to slide right up inside of Gothic Samurai around the home turn and my horse really responded.  He ran great.”

Testa Rossa has sired 265 winners world-wide at a remarkable 70% winning strike rate.  His other only US winner has been the British bred filly Marie Rossa who also won at Longchamp before transferring to trainer Graham Motion in California.