By Peter Brant Virginia Joy posted its first US bet on March 5 in The Very One Stakes (G3T) $150,000 as a 5-year-old German mixed mare rallied to stretch to win first Family Road .
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Virginia Joy settles comfortably in the middle of the pack as La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) winner Beautiful lover set the slow head speed to: 25.38 and: 50.86. After crossing a mile in 1:41.08, Beautiful Lover was overtaken by Family Way as the field turned into a homestead. Delivering a five-turn home-wide bid, Virginia Joy unleashed a powerful late charge to cheer Family Way in its final strides.
Harajuku runs in third, half-length behind Family Way.
Virginia Joy hit a 1 3/8 mile record in 2:15.92 on a firm turf field. She paid $3.60 as favorite.
“I have a good trip. Everything went perfectly,” said Ortiz Jr. She comes from a long way. I just have to wait and save some ground and wait as long as I can. She did everything right.”
Daughter of Empty soldier was a group 3 winner and was placed in Henkel-Preis der Diana – German Oaks (G1) at the age of 3 before being sent to the US last year at the age of 4. After the victory over the allowance option claim company last June at Belmont Park In her North American debut, she failed a few tries in New York last summer. Her win Saturday after a seven-month hiatus.
“We are really pleased with her. I want to thank Mr. Brant for being so patient with her and helping her with her workouts,” said coach Chad Brown. We trained her at Payson Park. We took her out for a while.
“She had a hard time keeping her weight off last year so we ended up unplugging her and taking her out and she came back with another horse. I would also like to add that I think the ground is ground. firmer helped her I’ve caught soft ground three times in a row with her and I can only tell the coach she wants it firm I can never find it , and you’ll find it in Gulfstream.”
Virginia Joy was bred in Germany by the Gestut Auenquelle. A daughter of the group of 3 winners Doyen mare Virginia Sun , Virginia Joy was sold at age 3 to Oceanic Bloodstock for the equivalent of $1,142,388 at Arqana Saint-Cloud “The Arc” Sale 2020 when consigned by her breeder. Her full 4-year-old brother Hurricane Virginia grouped twice in Germany.
Videotapes: The Very One S. (G3T)
