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Ova Charged Digs In To Win Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint

For some, the most anticipated and most hyped race on Saturday's Louisiana Champions Day card at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La., was over in the paddock. Prior to the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Ladies Sprint, one of ten stakes on the day, Ova Charged, the beautiful bay by Star Guitar, out of Cotton Charged, made her rounds – beaming, confident, focused. She has looked like a champion in her stall, in her workouts, beating optional claimers two weeks prior on November 28th, but what about up against the best filly and mare sprinters in Louisiana—did this lightly raced filly have enough to take on the class and grit of graded stakes winner Cilla?

The answer is yes.

76.00-1 longshot Sumitup hustled through the mix of sharp breaks to get the lead and sped on setting the opening first quarter fraction of :21.89. Breaking inside the early leader, second-choice 1.90-1 Cilla was close to the front but relaxed and shifted to one path outside to be joined by quickening 25.30-1 shot Sarah's Passion, who pressed tightly and did not let up pressure. The pair moved through the turn behind the leader but took over the front at the half pole. And that's when everyone wondered, where is .40-1 favorite Ova Charged?

Breaking slowest of the field, rider Reylu Gutierrez guided Ova Charged at the back of the pack going four-wide through the turn while targeting the main foe. As Cilla put away Sarah's Passion, it looked like she could sustain. Drifting in, Ova Charged seemed to lose focus but Gutierrez came with the crop and Star Guitar's talented 3-year-old showed more than talent, digging in with Cilla in her sights and the finishing line just beyond, Ova Charged showed the heart of a Louisiana-bred champion and won by ¾ length over Cilla who never gave up. Five starts, four wins, and one graded stakes second totaling $174,600 lifetime earnings. The connections were in attendance and they were proud.

“It's an honor to ride for Jose's stable, to ride Ova Charged,” jockey Reylu Gutierrez said. “What a smart, talented, strong, physically and mentally imposing filly. I am really delighted I can ride her. Two champion fillies neither of them deserved to lose.”

Cilla's trainer Brett Brinkman had indicated before the race that the goal was to keep teaching Cilla to relax, but when you get drawn the 3 post, inside a filly like Ova Charged, it forced their hand when it came time to run.

“The post position dictated what we had to do,” Brinkman said. “The only two disappointing finishes I've had with her lately have been in the lane and we've been the target. When we are fixed on a target, we are much better off. I think that's the same way with his filly [Ova Charged]. She's a fighter, those are two good mares right there. She had the benefit of a recent race, which is no excuse. My filly fights, she's good. I'd like to turn the tables and have the outside the other way and force his hand. That's just the competitor in me.”

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After the slow start, Ova Charged's connections didn't know this race could unfold in their favor.

“I was worried at the beginning because she didn't break sharp,” Fair Grounds co-leading trainer Jose Camejo said. “When she was coming home I knew she had a lot of horse left, but I knew she still had to pass the three [Cilla]. She got it done and we are so proud of what she did.”

The other co-leading trainer, Ron Faucheux, sent out 15.30 – 1 Strong Beauty who finished well for third place. An impressive turning out by her and the other sharp fillies in this race. 25.30 – 1 Sarah's Passion holding on for fourth. 14 – 1 Snowball finished fifth. Then 116.70 – 1 Sienna Breeze finished ahead of the tiring early speed Sumitup.

On a day dedicated to Louisiana's best horses and horsemen, Ova Charged owner's said it best:

“Louisiana I love you,” said Evelyn Benoit of Brittlyn Stables. “And I love Star Guitar.”

As for Cilla's next steps, her trainer has a solid plan.

“I am shooting for a summer career with her,” Brinkman said. “We weren't pointing to this race but it was a race I wanted to hit. We'll look to hit a race in February, then we are going back up the country.”

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Slow Down Andy Takes Los Alamitos Futurity For Reddam, O’Neil

Sporting the same colors that his sire Nyquist won the 2016 Kentucky Derby in, Slow Down Andy ran greenly through the stretch in the Los Alamitos Futurity but was able to straighten out and take the Grade 2 stakes by a length over the favored Messier.

In a short field of five, Slow Down Andy broke from the outside, settling in behind the front three of Olympic Legend, Durante, and Messier down the Los Alamitos straight and around the first turn. Through fractions of :22.79, :46.62, and 1:10.83, Olympic Legend maintained a half-length lead, with Messier pulling even with him as they approached the far turn. Mario Gutierrez on Slow Down Andy went four-wide into the turn, with Messier taking the lead as they hit the top of the stretch.

Into the Los Alamitos stretch, Messier on the rail had a short advantage over Slow Down Andy driving on the outside. The gap between them shortened as Slow Down Andy made his bid for the lead, passing Messier, but then the son of Nyquist lugged in and bumped the Baffert trainee, allowing Messier to battle back and take the lead briefly. Inside the last sixteenth, though, Gutierrez straightened Slow Down Andy out and dug in, passing Messier to take over for good, hitting the wire a length in front. Barossa, Durante, and Olympic Legend rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.35. Find this race's chart here.

Slow Down Andy paid $12.40 and $3.40. Messier paid $2.10. The field of five meant no show wagering for the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity.

“He relaxed perfectly early. When I saw the opening going to the turn I sent him through and he responded. I think he was just playing around in the stretch. When (runner-up) Messier got back in front of him, he regained his focus and showed his heart,'' jockey Mario Gutierrez said after the race.

“If it was up to me we would have run in the California bred race ($100,000 King Glorious) tomorrow. It was strictly (owner-breeder) Paul (Reddam) wanting to take a chance and having faith in Slow Down Andy and thank God he did. We figured our other horse (Durante) would show speed and being in (post 5) we hoped (jockey) Mario (Gutierrez) would get good position and ride his race. Down the stretch, it looked like we had it and then we didn't and then we did, so it was very exciting,” trained Doug O'Neill said after the race. “He doesn't really remind me of Nyquist. This horse has a lot of different gears and Nyquist was just a beast, so precocious. This horse is pretty calm and more mentally versatile at this stage than Nyquist ever was.''

The G2 Los Alamitos Futurity is part of the Road to the 2022 Kentucky Derby. With his win, Slow Down Andy earns 10 points toward a spot in the starting gate for next year's Derby. Messier earns four points, Barossa gets two, and fourth-place Durante earns one.

Bred in California by owner Reddam Racing, Slow Down Andy is out of the Square Eddie mare Edwina E. With his win in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity, the 2-year-old colt has two wins in three starts for career earnings of $249,850.

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Rebalation Runs Down Nardini To Take Bear Fans Stakes

In November, the El Dorado Shooter Stakes for California-bred or sired sprinters was won by Top Harbor, who is out of stakes-winning broodmare Reba Is Tops. On Saturday at Golden Gate Fields in Berkely, Calif., Top Harbor's older sister Rebalation won the “filly and mare version” of the El Dorado Shooter, the Bear Fans Stakes, running down race favorite Nardini in the concluding stages to pick up her first career stakes victory.

Rebalation, ridden to victory by veteran Frank Alvarado, sat off the pace before unleashing a ferocious rally in the final furlong. 7-5 race favorite Nardini skipped away from the competition in the final furlong and had opened up multiple lengths at that point, but 4-1 second choice Rebalation had enough in the tank to run down Nardini in the final strides. The official winning margin was a half-length and the six furlongs on Tapeta was completed by Rebalation in 1:09.62 seconds.

Rebalation paid $10.80 to win, $4.00 to place, and $3.40 to show. Nardini returned $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show while Tip Top Gal (off at odds of 15-1) paid $5.40 to show. 80-1 longshot J and K Express completed the superfecta and Carolina Mia ran fifth. They were followed in by Princess Vivian, Getting Sideways, Draw Me, Daffodil Sweet, Dee Gee, Square Peggy, Ima Happy Cat, and Hot Rageous.

Rebalation, bred in California by her owners Gordy Jarnig, Kenny Marshall, and Eric Schweiger, now boasts a rock-solid record of five wins, one second, and three third-place finishes from 11 lifetime starts. The 4-year-old filly has accrued lifetime earnings of $137,328.

Live racing resumes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday with 11 races and an early first post of 11:45 AM PT. Sunday is Closing Day of the Fall Meet at Golden Gate, with a mandatory payout in the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager. The Pick 6, beginning in Race 6, has a $48,120 carryover heading into the Sunday card. There are also mandatory payouts in the Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) and Late Pick 5 (Races 7-11), and the Rolling Super High Five in Race 11. The marquee race of the day is Race 9, the $50,000 Miss American Stakes for filly and mare turf routers.

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R Adios Jersey, Shivaree Wins FTBOA Stakes At Tampa Bay Saturday

Florida's Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry put its best foot forward today at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Fla., and even fans who didn't cash a ticket came away feeling like winners after a pair of breathtaking stakes races.

In the fourth race, the fifth edition of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for registered state-bred fillies and mares, unbeaten 3-year-old R Adios Jersey engineered a tour de force, dominating four rivals for an 11-length victory.

Two races later, in the FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for registered state-bred males, owners, trainers, and spectators were left gasping as 4-year-old colt Shivaree defended his 2020 Marion County title with a desperate rally in the final strides that deprived 5-year-old gelding R Mercedes Boy of victory by a head.

Both winners earned $60,000 from the $100,000 purses, but it was the thrills they provided along the way that proved priceless. Shivaree's winning time of 1:22.58 for the seven-furlong distance was .02 seconds faster than R Adios Jersey, but it should also be mentioned she was geared down late while Shivaree was all-out at the finish.

Jockey Paco Lopez knew R Adios Jersey was virtually flying during the early stages of the City of Ocala. But the 3-year-old filly felt so comfortable beneath him, he decided it would be counter-productive to try to slow her down.

By the time she got to the 1/8-mile pole of the seven-furlong race, her four Florida-bred rivals were vying for second place. R Adios Jersey continued to roll, improving her record to 6 for 6.

An overwhelming favorite in the wagering, R Adios Jersey paid $2.40 to win. She probably would have set a stakes record had not Lopez throttled her back in the final yards, still posting a time of 1:22.60, .20 seconds off Surprise Wedding's 2017 stakes mark. Starship Nala finished second and Bramble Berry was third.

R Adios Jersey, who won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 27 in her previous start, is owned by Rich Averill's Averill Racing, Anthony Mattera's ATM Racing, and retired major league baseball outfielder Jayson Werth. Georgina Baxter trains the daughter of Adios Charlie-Marion Theatre, by Montbrook, who was bred in the Sunshine State by Ocala Stud and J. Michael O'Farrell, Jr.

First-place money raised R Adios Jersey's career earnings to $427,400.

“That was kind of easy, but when you have a very nice, fast filly like that, it can look easy. I wanted her to go in :22 (seconds) and :46 (for the quarter-mile and the half), but (:21.79) and (:44.35). … she's just very fast,” Lopez said. “She wanted to go so hard but I didn't fight her too much, because she was doing it very comfortable. She was really sharp today and Georgina did a great job getting her ready.”

Lopez has ridden R Adios Jersey in all but one of her starts, including the Charles Town Oaks and the Florida Cup Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes here in March.

Bradenton, Fla., resident Averill, who owns Rich Averill Masonry, has built an impressive racing resume since emerging on the scene in 2005 with Florida Oaks and G2 Delaware Oaks winner R Lady Joy. With such prominent stakes winners as Lady's Island, Pay Any Price, R Angel Katelyn, Paradise Dancer, and G2 Saratoga winner R Free Roll to his credit, Averill keeps proving he's a major player.

As is customary when he competes in a stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs, he brought close to 100 family members, co-workers, friends, and friends of friends to enjoy R Adios Jersey's sheer brilliance.

“We wanted this race for the hometown team, and it's great when the plan comes together,” Averill said. “Every race, she has done better and better and better. She's 6 for 6 and you can't ask for more than that. We're taking things one race at a time with her, and we'll figure out what's next.

“I always try to plan a party here with my friends and family and co-workers, and right now it's a feeling of stress relief because I don't have to answer all the questions of 'why didn't you win.' It's fun to get new people into the game, like Anthony, who moved down from New Jersey, and Jayson, and today is a day they will always remember in a good way.”

In the Marion County, Shivaree bettered his record to 5 for 23 the hard way, digging into a deep reserve of desire in the final strides to edge a tiring but game R Mercedes Boy. Samy Camacho rode the winner for breeder-owner Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Ralph Nicks.

Shivaree, the 2020 G1 Curlin Florida Derby runner-up, raised his lifetime bankroll to $546,294.

Camacho said the race unfolded as he expected, with Shivaree making a bold move on the turn for home, until Averill Racing and partners' R Mercedes Boy kept going inside the 1/8-mile pole under Lopez.

“I was a little worried when that horse gave another kick,” said Camacho, who surprised more than a few people by knowing he'd gotten there just in time. “But my horse kept trying. I rode this horse in two stakes at Gulfstream this year and finished second by a neck and second by a head, so I know him and he did a great job. He tries all the time.”

Nicks, who watched the race from Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., was worried when Shivaree went wide on the turn for home. But the son of Awesome of Course-Garter Belt, by Anasheed, seemed to thirst for a victory that was his first in 364 days – since last year's Marion County.

“He's gritty and he's very competitive. He makes up for his size in try,” Nicks said. “I knew he would keep grinding and luckily he had room to get there. Very rarely is he not competitive.”

Shivaree paid $4.40 as the wagering favorite. His time was .90 seconds off his 2020 stakes record. Well Defined, the 2019 G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes winner, finished third, a length and a quarter behind R Mercedes Boy.

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