Md. sire Imagining has first winner in Little Lion Girl

Imagining. Photo courtesy of Anchor and Hope Farm.

Lady Olivia at Northcliff and Michael Morgan’s Little Lion Girl broke her maiden June 28, 2019 in race 1 at Laurel Park in her second start to become the first winner for her sire, Imagining (Giant’s Causeway).

Little Lion Girl, trained by Carla Morgan, ran second on debut at Delaware Park on June 5th. Tried this time on turf, Little Lion Girl came off the rail in mid-stretch with an exciting close outside horses to win the maiden special by 1 ¼ lengths. The field went in 1:03.22, better than two seconds faster than the colt race on the same card.

Little Lion Girl was bred in Maryland by Bowman & Higgins Stable out of Chickasaw Gal, by Indian Charlie. Chickasaw Gal is out of Grade 1 placed Ms Louisett, a half sister to Holy Bubbette, the dam of Cairo Prince and grand-dam of Outwork.

“It was interesting to note Little Lion Girl has made both starts Lasix-free” said Louis Merryman, owner/operator at Anchor & Hope farm. “in a climate where Lasix is up for debate, it’s nice to know you have a sire who produces runners who don’t necessarily need it.”

Grade 1 winner Imagining, a son of Giant’s Causeway out of the A.P. Indy mare Daydreaming, earned $1,177,394 while posting a 9-5-2 record from 26 starts for owner/breeder Phipps Stable trainer Shug McGaughey. Imagining won the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion, the Pan American Stakes (G3), and placed in four additional Grade 1 events including the Sword Dancer Invitational, Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Hollywood, Derby and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. Imagining is out of multiple graded stakes winner Daydreaming from the deep Phipps family of Get Lucky, Dance Number and Numbered Account.

Imagining stands at Anchor & Hope Farm for $7,500 lfsn.