SSM F/M Turf ($75.000 Purse)
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old Foaled in FL
One Mile on the Turf
January 14, 2023

Despite having only made twelve starts prior to the running of the SSM F/M Turf, Rita Vrataski is a seven-year-old mare. Her prior trainer put her on the shelf for a couple of extended periods, but fortunately she would be put in a $12.500 claiming race for her last start. In that, she would be claimed, with Jormav grabbing her for that amount. It had only been a few weeks since the last time Rita Vrataski was on the racetrack, but certainly she could handle that based on how much time she has spent away from the track. Jockey J J Castellano would put his mare out on the lead right from the gate, and she would stay there for the entire mile around the turf course, giving Jormav as well as jockey J J Castellano each their first win in this race. The winning time is 1:33.71 in what is just the second time that it had been run at exactly a mile. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.47)- It is Rita Vrataski jumping out to the lead for Jormav, doing so while going three wide around the opening turn. She is not fully able to break clear of two of her rivals, Ace Queen, who is on the rail for Ace Racing Stable, and Pineal Gland, who runs between horses for T Boy Racing. The other two horses, Martyparty’s Queen Of The Chai and Arindel’s To The Beach, are only a length behind them, so no one is far out of it at this point in time.

(1/2 Mile- :46.77)- Rita Vrataski stays in the third lane for the entire run around the opening turn, and only early in the backstretch does she move over to the rail as J J Castellano needed a little more than a length cushion to decide to do that. Pineal Gland has a head in front of Ace Queen for second, and behind them To The Beach and Queen Of The Chai are only two and a half lengths from the front, themselves.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Completing the backstretch and moving around the turn, Rita Vrataski looks quite strong, maintaining a stride that neither Pineal Gland nor Ace Queen could keep up with as each of them begin to lose ground. At this point in the race, only To The Beach was able to look as sharp as our leader, and she is ready to mount a challenge. This must happen while running three wide, but moving into the stretch, she’s the new second place horse. Would she have enough time in the stretch to make up her length and a half deficit to the leader?

(Finish- 1:33.71)- In the stretch, Rita Vrataski shows no signs of letting up, but To The Beach gradually cuts into her lead with each stride. Still, there was plenty left in the tank for Rita Vrataski, and while she gets company at the wire with the stewards wanting to glance at a photo first, Rita Vrataski would not be denied the win, winning by a neck. To The Beach is second, beating Pineal Gland by two lengths. Our queens are at the back, with Ace Queen topping Queen Of The Chai.

About The Winner- Rita Vrataski, trained by Jormav and ridden to victory by J J Castellano, is a seven-year-old mare by Khartoum and is out of Twisted Holly. She was bred in Florida by Black Ice Racing as a first quarter two-year-old and picked up by Jormav with a $12.500 claim a few days before Christmas. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in 13 starts, and her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $97.100.

Track: Firm
Time: :23²  :46³  1:09⁴  1:33³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 3 Paid 143.50
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 3 – 4 Paid 344.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded