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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