Occasional thunder and the threat of worsening weather did not dampen the spirits of hopeful owners and trainers aboard the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) on 6 May at Churchill Downs.
When the field of 10 fillings entered the gate with the $500,000 Edgewood Stakes presented by Forcht Bank (G2T), the rain called for a brief truce. A clear sky proves just enough time for a 3-year-old child New Year Eve upset Edgewood in a final time of 1:43.39, sailing over the finish line 2 3/4 the length.
Defeated 14-1 in her first qualifying attempt, New Year’s Eve broke out at the bottom of the field and was soon settled in third line by driver Luis Saez. In front are jockey Jose Ortiz and Florida Oaks (G3T) in second Spicer , who cut from post 7 to set the speed early. The pair held their lead throughout the first half-mile, placing the fractions at: 24.07 and: 48.64.
Running right after the original leader is My Filly TwirlFollowed by An agent’s mistake and winner Florida Oaks Dolce Zel . With three-quarters of a mile covered in 1:13, My Filly Twirl cut Spicer’s lead in half but quickly found herself squeezed by Dolce Zel, who advanced from the inside down the turn. away and round three lanes in the alley.
To spend time at the end of the field, New Year’s Eve took it upon herself to take a long turn, blasting from eighth to third in the seventh road, a move that saw her race her widest ever. on the lane. As the eighth pole approached, the filthy racer kicked to another gear and dashed forward, overtaking the leaders to win last place.
Taking advantage of the waning energy in the late field is McKulick who rose from seventh in the final period and trailed Dolce Zel after four and a half minutes to take second. Dolce Zel holds third place, more than half of Kneesnips in fourth place.
“She relaxes very well,” says Saez. “I was able to land on the first turn. I went out a little bit after half a mile because I saw the horses ahead stopping. At the beginning of the stretch, she was clear and explosive. She was so cool. loved it. I could feel how happy she was.”
Ahead of Friday’s Edgewood win, New Year’s Eve saw an exclusive race at Fair Grounds & Slots in Louisiana. Coached by Brendan Walsh and owned by Marc Detampel, the diminutive broke her maidenhood in her first ask on December 2 last year and won her next just over a month later. when she scored by the neck in the race for the January 29 allowance option.
New Year’s Eve’s first black-scoring attempt took place during the March 12 Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stakes about a mile across the lawn. Missed by a competitor at the start of that race, the chubby girl made it through most of the race before swerving across the lane as she tried to focus on the finish line. She beat her rivals again midway through but held on despite the bumpy road to third place, just a length and a nose behind the winner.
“She’s just a little slow mentally. But she’s slowly realizing it,” Walsh said. “So we gave her some time to figure things out; then we pushed her. We put flashers on her for the last two works of her and hers. seems to have grasped that for a bit. I’m quietly confident she’ll be better than she is today. And she did.”
“It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable,” said agent Fergus Galvin, who always smiles at the dirty contacts in the winner’s circle. “We came in knowing we were taking a shot – it was a tough field. Brendan had a lot of confidence in her. She’s shown a lot of promise in New Orleans this winter. She probably found herself a little behind in her race, so today Brendan put her flash on I know she’s still far behind, but today it took her a little deeper When she started running around, she exploded.
“It was amazing. Marc (Detampel) came here with his family from Chicago. The weather was just right for us at the right time.”
Galvin bought it for Detampel as a wish from the Gainesway to Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. For a modest $105,000, New Year’s Eve made more than her original cost. Edgewood’s score brings this man’s out-of-pocket earnings to $353,600 for a 3-0-1 record after four starts.
Raised in Kentucky by Stud TNT, New Year’s Eve is the daughter of The joy of kittens out of the mare Elusive quality, Fabulous Rafaela . Galvin said the fact that the dark stallion is the daughter of stallion Hill ‘n’ Dale – who was a male grass champion and one of the top males in North America – means it comes highly recommended. .
“We had a lot of luck with Kitten’s Joys for Marc, and I bought them for Qatar Racing as well,” Galvin said. “She’s just a really nice girl. Brian Graves of Gainesway recommended her very highly.”
In what could turn out to be a possible coup for New Year’s Eve relationships at the end of the breed contract, Galvin had purchased her dam, Awesome Rafaela, a few months earlier at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale for just $95,000.
“We are very happy to have a family,” said Galvin.
Awesome Rafaela, in Volatile pony, was offered for sale in February by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Video: Edgewood S. presented by Forcht Bank (G2T)
