Delta Farms Earns History With Viking Vania In Distaff

By Nynl Stables on November 4, 2017

BC Distaff (Grade 1)- $2,000.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 3, 2017

As other fillies and mares throughout her age group were running in big name races at the start of the year, possibly chasing a KYO berth, Viking Vania was breaking her maiden in late April. It took her a little while to win a race, but once she did, it’s as if a light turned on for her. After winning an allowance, she went to PRM in early July for the Grade 3 Oaks, and won that as well. How much higher could she go? Next up, was the Grade 1 Hirsch here at DMR against some of the best. While she didn’t, her second-by-a-nose finish proved that not only did she belong, but that she had arrived. She’d win the Personal Ensign, then run second in the Cotillion. A new star was being born, and it seemed like would be one of the biggest threats in this field, especially knowing that Dirty Deeds was way down in the starting gate. The 10/1 odds seemed to be fair, but seemed to be a great play at the betting window as well. She’s run the Distaff just like she had run previous races, running near the leaders, waiting for her time to strike. Delta Farms is the winning trainer, and can now claim victories in both the BC Classic and BC Distaff. The only trainers that can also make this claim are: Jerry Garcia Racing, Australia Wide, and Blushing Meadows. Impressive company that Delta Farms has joined. Aboard the winner was R J Albarado, winning it for the first time. Congratulations! The time of the win 1:48.29. Here’s a look at it!

(½ Mile- :46.75)- Out of the starting gate, we see the outside push from mostly everyone that is starting out there. Musical Treat (Mb Stables) looks like she is going to be the one staying in front as they moved around the turn, but a very wide trip by Dirty Deeds (Aer Stables) would result in that one taking the lead as they moved down the backstretch. Whispering Nurse (D J C Racing Stables) was quick from the gate as well, but would retreat a couple lengths into the turn. Not wanting to be left out from the outside push, Heart Nebulae (SamIam) was in this mix as well, and assumed a stalking position. While all this was going on, our eventual winner Viking Vania started well, but did not make any huge push, and let the others settle it out amongst themselves while she waited for the dust to settle. Eventually, in the backstretch, this would put her in a good spot, running third, and just a length and a half off the pace. Shake It Off (Our Athletes), had a similar early plan and battled Heart Nebulae for fourth while Conspiring (Mb Stables) had a good rail trip. Whispering Nurse eventually settled into seventh, four lengths out, but perhaps a mistake was made by letting Viking Vania get the distance on her. Way Up (Team 7 Illusions) and Blackberry (Our Athletes) were midpack and Queenwood (Smokey Stover) a length behind them. Further back it would be Forgotten Past (Mb Stables), Notarized Kate (Pristine Stables), Dreaming Of Lys (Angelos Stables), and K T D (Aer Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.49)- As the field moves down the backstretch, there is no one making a big move to the front here, but things are setting up to get intense as we move into the turn. Dirty Deeds was still looking good on the front end, though Musical Treat looked like she might be in trouble as they moved around the turn. The longshot Shake It Off was put a slight run on Viking Vania as the two of them closed in somewhat on Dirty Deeds. Conspiring was hoping to shoot the gap behind Dirty Deeds, to the inside of Viking Vania. Not much going on behind them.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- During the turn, I was beginning to think this race might belong to Shake It Off. She had done a good job getting closer to the front, and now had pulled even with Viking Vania at the top of the stretch. Dirty Deeds was clinging to the lead as good as she could, while Musical Treat started to treat, but not that rapidly. Conspiring had room only if Dirty Deeds could keep hanging in here long enough for her to clear Musical Treat and go to the inside of her. Whispering Nurse looked good, advancing two lengths, and had a clear lane for her four wide move. Heart Nebulae seemed to be dropping. Behind them, still really, nothing, and that was a little suprising.

(Finish- 1:48.29)- Things got very exciting in the stretch, as Viking Vania and Shake It Off battled it out, with Whispering Nurse making a great charge to the outside. Viking Vania showed the same kind of heart and desire that the trainer enjoyed with Viking Shield in the BC Classic a few years ago, and would have the upper hand on Shake It Off, just barely. However, Whispering Nurse was coming hard, and just ran out of time. It was a valiant effort. Dirty Deeds is fourth, and beaten by less then a length. So it may be fair to say that she was only beaten by the post draw today when considering her wide trip into the first turn, and around it. Behind them, Notarized Kate, Conspiring, Way Up, Forgotten Past, Blackberry, and Queenwood for a 6-way photo for 5th, but none of them threatened for even fourth in this race as a couple decided it was time to run way too late. Musical Treat, K T D, Heart Nebulae, and Dreaming Of Lys round it out.

About The Winner: Viking Vania, ridden by R J Albarado, and trained by Delta Farms, is a three year old filly by Viking Rage, and out of Vania Tree. She was bred in Kentucky as a first quarter two year old by Delta Farms, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The sire, Viking Rage, can now boast that he has produced both a BC Distaff and BC Classic winner. For Viking Vania, she has now won five of eleven, and its her third graded win!

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

Viking Vania

Delta Farms

Albarado R J

10.20

1^hd