Horses to follow in 2025: Senza Parole

Remember Senza Parole, the sensational debut winner at Saratoga who was sure to be the red-hot favorite in the Frizette (G1)? Unfortunately, the Chad Brown trainee was scratched from that Breeders’ Cup Challenge event and sidelined for the remainder of her juvenile season.

But the good news is that Senza Parole will soon begin to limber up for a comeback, making the Don Alberto Stable homebred a must-follow on the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) trail. 

Don Alberto COO Reed Ringler reports that Senza Parole spent time on the farm following her “minor setback,” and she is on course to rejoin Brown at his winter base of Payson Park at the turn of the New Year. 

“Hoping for BIG things in 2025,” Ringler enthused.

Senza Parole at Saratoga

Indeed, Senza Parole sparked hopes of going straight to the top of the two-year-old filly division in her Aug. 23 unveiling at the Spa. The well-bred daughter of Gun Runner not only showed a terrific set of gears, while exuding an effortless vibe, but she also displayed unusual poise and tractability for a first-time starter.

Initially vying for the early lead between rivals from post 2, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. wisely orchestrated a tactical retreat to put her in a better position. Senza Parole took the signal to ease back to third through an opening quarter in :22.52, then steered outside and readily advanced to put her head in front passing the half in :45.80.

Although Ortiz kept her wide by design turning into the stretch, Senza Parole’s momentum was uninterrupted. The 3.70-1 second choice drew away with total authority, leaving 0.85-1 favorite Stunner toiling well back in second.

Senza Parole, her tail streaming behind her as if for the sheer joy of it, crossed the wire 7 3/4 lengths in front. Her final time for six furlongs, 1:09.84, merited a strong 98 Brisnet Speed rating and a 97 Late Pace figure.

You might say that Senza Parole left spectators muttering “no words,” thereby living up to her name. 

“She was very impressive,” Brown told NYRA publicity. “We were cautiously optimistic that she would put in a good performance first time out and run to her works, but you never know, especially at Saratoga.”

Brown was taking nothing for granted on the stretch-out to a mile in the Frizette.

“She had another good work and she’s been a brilliantly fast horse,” her trainer said, “so we’ll test her stretching out.”

That test has to wait for another day. Her pedigree is encouraging, if slightly ambiguous. 

Senza Parole’s pedigree

Senza Parole’s dam, the Street Cry mare Senza Te, won at a mile but concluded her brief career in sprints. Senza Te is herself a half-sister to stakes winner Flor de la Mar, who despite being by Tiznow, scored both of her victories sprinting. Flor de la Mar did place three times in routes, notably when second in the 2019 Santa Anita Oaks (G1). 

Another half-sister to Senza Te, Grade 3-placed stakes vixen Catiche (by Arrogate), did collect all of her black-type routing. Their juvenile half-sister, Girl Math (by McKinzie), is still a maiden, but she has placed in all three starts at a mile or beyond. 

Senza Te and company are all out of Sacristy, a Pulpit mare who had distance limitations. Sacristy’s marquee win came in the 2012 Old Hat (G3), and she also placed in the Beaumont (G2), Raven Run (G2), and Forward Gal (G2). 

Sacristy’s half-brother is Japanese Group 1-winning sprinter Mozu Superflare (by Speightstown). Further back, this is the family of brilliant multiple Grade 1 heroine Jersey Girl (dam of Jersey Town), Valid Wager, Purge, Little Sister, and Valid Expectations. 

Will the influence of Gun Runner and Street Cry outweigh the speed-oriented genes of the maternal line? Regardless of whatever her optimal trip may be, Senza Parole shapes up as a real talent. 

Stunner complimented Senza Parole by dominating her next two starts, including the Nov. 2 Tempted S. She was foiled late in her two-turn debut in the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire S. at Gulfstream Park. 

Interestingly, Senza Parole has been underestimated by the market in both of her public auction appearances. Led out unsold for $120,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, she was available once more as a two-year-old in training at OBS April, only to fail to reach her reserve again at $240,000.

Don Alberto Corp. has reaped the rewards. A Chilean institution now coming to the forefront with its stateside operations, Don Alberto is the nom de course of the mother and son duo of Liliana Solari and Carlos Heller. They’ve also bred champion Arcangelo, multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Muth, and Journalism, who roared into Kentucky Derby (G1) calculations in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). 

Might we dream of an Oaks/Derby double for Don Alberto?