by Sarah Mace
Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful) began her career with an exclamation point on Sunday, winning the inaugural running of the $125,000 Lynbrook Stales at six furlongs for New York-bred juvenile fillies. After making a dramatic last-to-first move in the far turn, she opened up double-digit lengths to score the victory under a light hand ride.
Trained by Leah Gyarmati for Treadway Racing Stable – the connections of last year’s Grade 1 Spinaway winner Sweet Reason – Wonder Gal was drawn on the outside of six fillies for her first start. Considering that Belmont’s first race for New York-bred juvenile fillies was run only last Wednesday, it is not surprising that the Lynbrook field was dominated by first time starters (Saluda, Jessica’s Ride and Wonder Gal) and maidens (Accelebrate, a Delaware shipper). Two other fillies had broken their maidens out of town (Harlan’s Honor, Jiggin Witit).
Apparently outrun in the early stages under jockey Taylor Rice, 4-5 favorite Wonder Gal settled in sixth, eight lengths off the lead behind Harlan’s Honor and Saluda, who vied for the lead through a first quarter-mile in 22.19.
Beginning her charge in the first part of the far turn, Wonder Gal inhaled three rivals from the inside at the rail, then angled out athletically into the three path at the five-sixteenths marker.
By the head of the stretch the dark bay filly had dispatched the two leaders and proceeded to open up, running the run the rest of field virtually off the screen before securing the victory by 14 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:11.14 under light encouragement. Following her across the line were Accelebrate, Saluda, Harlan’s Honor and Jiggin Witit. The flashy Jessica’s Ride was a late scratch after trouble in the gate. [VIDEO]
Winning Pilot Taylor Rice, niece of trainer Linda Rice, said, “I had been on her a few times in the morning, so I was hoping an effort like this was coming, but you never really know. She’s a big mare, so I just wanted to let her break and settle. I think she’ll definitely be better going longer.”
Gyarmati voiced a wise trainer’s cautious optimism. “We hope she lives up to our expectations. She’s young, still. She’s big, but she’s still young. You have to keep that in mind. There are bound to be some bumps along the way.”
Wonder Gal was purchased by Treadway at the OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds as the top-selling New York-bred filly, and fourth highest-priced New York-bred juvenile overall for $210,000 after a :10 1/5 breeze. She came into the Lynbrook off a solid-looking series of works dating back to late April, capped by a five-furlong bullet move out of the gate on June 28 on the Belmont training track in one minute flat.
Bred by Apache Farm LLC and foaled at Keane Stud in Amenia, Wonder Gal is the only reported foal to date out of Passe, an unraced Kentucky-bred daughter of Dixie Union. Passe is out of stakes winner and graded stakes performer Gal on the Go (Irgun), and a half-sister to Social Queen, a multiple graded winner by Dynaformer ($344,164).
