Las Virgenes Stakes (KYO) (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile on the Dirt
February 6, 2022

As a two year old, there was plenty of reason to like Sensation, as she won the Grade 1 Frizette then ran in the BC Juvenile Fillies. After not beating anyone in the BC, then running fourth in an optional claimer, you had to wonder if Sensation was going to get back to that form but we were hopeful in making her our second choice. In the Las Virgenes Stakes, she would silence all doubters as she picked up the victory! With this, we can put to bed the concerns about her short femur and focus more on her ability and excellent bloodlines. She is trained by Mb Stables, who wins the race for the second time in his career, also winning in 2017 with Various. C J Hernandez is the winning jockey, doing so for the first time. Congratulations to them! The time of the race was 1:35.29, the third quickest winning time of the race. Here’s a look at it!

(¼ Mile- :23.37)- Do you believe in miracles? Well, that’s the name of the pacesetter as the TwinTowersRacing filly shoots out of the gate and opens up a length lead. She has just one stalker, and that would be Arindel’s Scary Ghost. Behind her, we have a group of three with Angelic holding the rail for D J C Racing Stables. On the outside here would be our eventual winner, Mb Stables-trained Sensation, and in the middle it’s Wilma, for LionKing Stables. They are only about two lengths from the front. Curlina (Arindel) is a length behind them, followed by The Secret Is Out (Nakamura Stables) and Poison Candy (Glorify Stables).

(½ Mile- :46.77)- Very little happens over the second quarter mile, with no passes for position to speak of. There was some moving around looking for better lanes in the middle of the field, but everyone was content to wait a little longer to make a move. The leader, Believe In Miracles added a length to her lead over Scary Ghost and Angelic. Sensation remained patient in the fourth lane.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Believe in Miracles continues to lead the way and holds her length and a half lead as she moves into the stretch. However, things were getting very interesting behind her so you had to feel that at least one of them was going to mount a challenge. Scary Ghost was still the second place horse, still running near the rail and neither gaining nor losing ground. Sensation was moving forward as she was now in a five wide position. Angelic and Curlina also seemed to be running well and looked like they could make a run at any time. The longshot, Wilma, was hanging in there well, giving those that bet on her hopes of a big pay day. About two lengths behind them, it’s Poison Candy and that undefeated horse that we picked named The Secret Is Out.

(Finish- 1:35.29)- With a furlong to go, it looked like Believe In Miracles might hang on, but eventually just one of the stalkers would have the ability to make a run at her. That would be Sensation, who handled her outside trip very well and found the additional gear needed. She would simply be masterful in the late moments of the race, not only grabbing the win, but winning by a length and a half. Believe In Miracles will settle for silver over a group of four that were steady in the stretch, but never really made that push. Angelic and Scary Ghost go third and fourth over the dead heating Curlina and Wilma, then its a length to Poison Candy, and one more to The Secret Is Out, who really disappointed.

About The Winner- Sensation, trained by Mb Stables, and ridden by C J Hernandez, is a three year old filly by Apples To Oranges and is out of Good Line. She was bred as a yearling in California by the trainer, and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in eight starts, and her second stake win, each of which are graded. Her career earnings are now $407.720.

Track: Fast
Time: :23¹  :46³  1:10²  1:35¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 8 Paid 45.60
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 8 – 2 Paid 810.00

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES