Month: March 2022

Peter Brant's Virginia Joy posted her first U.S. stakes win Saturday in the $150,000 The Very One (G3) at Gulfstream Park when she rallied in the stretch for a one-length victory over Family Way.

The 5-year-old German-bred mare by Soldier Hollow covered 1 3/8 miles in 2:15.92 on firm turf and notched her fourth win from 10 career starts.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Chad Brown, Virginia Joy settled comfortably in midpack before unleashing a stretch charge as the 4-5 favorite to overtake Family Way in the final yards.

Harajuku was third, a half-length behind Family Way.

Virginia Joy, who returned $3, spent the early part of her career racing in Europe before shipping to the U.S. She was unsuccessful in a pair of stakes tries in New York last summer. Saturday's stakes win followed a seven-month layoff.

“We're really pleased with her,” Brown said. “I think the firmer ground helped her. I caught soft ground three times in a row with her and I could just tell training her that she wanted it firm. I never could find it, and you're going to find it at Gulfstream. I think she can run as short as a mile and a quarter or she can run a mile and a half. I think the key is keeping her on some firm ground and keeping her in good health like she is now.”

Virginia Joy's dam is the Doyen mare Virginia Sun.

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Winngate Stables LLC's Kathleen O. kept her undefeated record intact Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., rallying from last at the top of the stretch to win the $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) going away by two lengths.

The Davona Dale, a mile race for 3-year-old fillies, was one of nine stakes on Gulfstream's 13-race card during the inaugural 1/ST Saturday promotion that also featured six stakes at Santa Anita Park. The Davona Dale was the final major prep for the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks April 2.

Kathleen O., the 2-1 favorite in a field of seven, won her third straight race and second stakes in a row with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano aboard. The daughter of Upstart earned 50 qualifying points for his year's Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. She paid $6.60 to win.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Kathleen O. lagged off a sharp early pace set by Mi Negrita, chased a few lengths back by Forward Gal (G3) winner Girl With a Dream during a 23.38-second quarter. After running a half-mile in 46.04, Mi Negrita met a two-pronged challenge on her outside from Girl With a Dream and Sweet Dani Girl on the turn. Three-wide Sweet Dani Girl took a narrow lead into the stretch as the field bunched up for the stretch run. After being blocked by a wall of horses at the top of the stretch, Kathleen O. was swung to the far outside, where the Kentucky-bred filly found room between horses and launched an impressive rally that would carry her to a comfortable score.

Kathleen O, who ran a mile in 1:36.23, won her debut over a muddy Aqueduct track Nov. 12 before coming back to win the Jan. 1 Cash Run at Gulfstream by 8 ½ lengths at the one-turn mile distance.

Classy Edition, who had won three straight races in New York-bred company, finished second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Cocktail Moments.

$200,000 Davona Dale (G2) Quotes

Winning Trainer Shug McGaughey: “She did break good today, but she just doesn't have the speed to stay up with them. The way she finished, pretty remarkable, especially over this track. I think this is a big move for a filly coming into this race off just two starts. I mean, I hope she keeps improving. Today she had to make her room a little bit, so I'm sure she learned quite a bit today. That would be my preference to keep her here (for the Gulfstream Park Oaks) and not have to ship her for the Ashland (at Keeneland). I'm pleased so far. I would think that (increased distance to 1 1/16 miles) shouldn't be a problem.”

Winning Jockey Javier Castellano: “I liked the way she did it today. She doesn't have the speed to be close to the horses, but I loved the way she finished. She always breaks slow out of the gate, but that's her style. Every horse is different. Turning for home, I was loaded. I was just looking for the seam and trying to split horses and that's exactly what I did.”

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Vegso Racing Stable's Officiating took the lead in mid-stretch to win his second graded stakes in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap for 4-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Officiating broke alertly under Manny Franco and stalked the pace set by 2021 Tom Fool-winner Chateau, who marked the opening quarter-mile in 22.66 seconds over the fast main track with Kendrick Carmouche up.

Officiating, who was carrying a co-field high 123 pounds, was kept to task by Franco down the backstretch and was joined by the slow-breaking Repo Rocks as the field entered the turn. The pair split a fading Prime Factor in second and made steady progress towards Chateau as he continued to lead by 1 1/2 lengths exiting the turn after a half-mile in 46.19.

Officiating, swung to the outside for the drive, continued to make up ground and took the lead from Chateau just past the sixteenth pole, drawing away to win by 5 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:12.22.

Chateau held onto place honors by 1 1/4 lengths over Repo Rocks, who angled to the center of the racetrack from the rail to pick up his second consecutive graded placing. Prime Factor finished another seven lengths back to round out the superfecta with Timeless Bounty completing the order of finish.

The Tom Fool was the six-furlong debut for the son of Blame, who cut back after finishing third in the one-mile Grade 3 Fred W. Hooper last time out at Gulfstream Park.

“It was very exciting,” Joseph, Jr. said of the effort. “He cut back to six furlongs for the first time and he wasn't outpaced. He was always in a handy spot. I was sure at the top of the lane he was going to kick in because he was cutting back in distance, and he did just that. I'm very proud of the horse.”

Franco said the race unfolded exactly how he and Joseph, Jr. had expected.

“Just like they told me: break out of there, get good position and try to be in the clear,” said Franco, who rode the bay for the first time in the Tom Fool. “The race developed the way we planned and he got it done. He was ready.

“Every time I asked him to do something, he was there for me,” Franco added. “I watched his replays and the more you push him, the more he goes. I was happy with where my horse put me and I was just waiting for the right moment to move. I wasn't worried at all, I wasn't too far away from him [Chateau].”

Joseph, Jr. praised Franco for his smart off-the-pace ride.

“That was the instruction: to get a good break and get position and, if he could, to work his way out into the clear,” Joseph, Jr. said. “Manny did exactly that. He gave him a good trip and was assertive to get him into the race early and into a good spot down the backside in the clear.”

Carmouche, who was aboard Chateau for his Tom Fool victory last year, said his horse gave his best effort.

“The track was a little heavier than he probably would have liked, but he still ran his race,” said Carmouche.

The Tom Fool was the second graded stakes score and fourth career victory for Officiating, who won the seven-furlong Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park on December 11 ahead of his third in the Fred W. Hooper.

Joseph, Jr. said the performance may warrant a start in the seven-furlong, Grade 1 $300,000 Carter Handicap on April 9 at the Big A.

“I would say that would definitely be under consideration,” said Joseph, Jr. “You would think that's the next possible start – he's won at seven-eighths already. We'll talk it over with [owner] Peter Vegso and see if we'll give it a go.”

A Florida homebred, Officiating earned $110,000 for his victory, bringing his total purse earnings to $331,097 and improving his record to 16-4-4-3. A $2 win wager on Officiating returned $13.40.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with an eight-race card headlined by the $125,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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