NYRA/Joe Labozzetta
Willet kicked off her 7-year old campaign by posting her fifth career stakes victory, and the first New York-bred stakes score of the year, when she won Aqueduct’s $100,000 Interborough Stakes for older fillies and mares on Saturday from off the pace.
Willet was looking to get back in the winner’s circle first the first time since the summer, when she recorded a win a state-bred conditioned allowance sprint at Saratoga on July 30, but since that victory had put up a series of strong performances in imposing company. She collected a pair of thirds behind female sprinter Eclipse Award finalist Artemis Agrotera in the Grade 1 Ballerina and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, and finished second to New York-bred graded stakes winner La Verdad in the Iroquois on Empire Showcase Day. In her most recent start Willet disappointed with a third-place finish third in the slop in the Garland of Roses as the 6-5 favorite. She came into Saturday’s race looking sharp though, with a five-furlong bullet move over the inner on January 11 under her belt.
Breaking from post three (of six) as the 2-1 favorite, Willet ran a reserved race for the first half mile, falling back by as much as nine lengths, while speedier types – Bridgehampton, pursed by Cape Cod Carol and Aireofdistinction – carved out early fractions of 22.57 and 45.41.
Picking up steam around the far turn, the bay mare swung out widest of all at the head of the stretch and steadily picked off rivals. After a perfectly-timed ride by Irad Ortiz, Jr., she reached the finish line with all the momentum and a 1 1/2-length advantage. Aireofdistinction held second, while Expression closed into third. The final time for six furlongs was 1:10.65. [VIDEO]
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Ortiz reported, “I got a pretty good trip. She likes to come from behind. When she broke she was relaxed, and she finished pretty good. She was ready.”
Jimmy Iselin, winning trainer of Willet and co-owner with Charlotte Assoulin and Eli Gindi, said, “It’s great that she should come back after the last race [the Garland of Roses]. That was a little concerning. But after that race, she was flourishing. So we made a decision to race on a great day and a great track. It’s exciting that she came back and showed what she can do.”
Willet’s last stakes victory came in the mud in the Touch of Love overnight stakes for state-bred fillies and mares at Aqueduct on December 2013, the same year she won the Union Avenue and Princess Dixie in back to back starts. In 2012 she dazzled in the mud with a nine-plus-length romp in the Iroquois Stakes.
Only three times out of the money in 23 starts, Willet’s record stands at 9-7-4 with earnings approaching the three-quarter million dollar mark at $746,900.
As to future plans, Iselin said, “We’ll sit down and enjoy today and go back to the drawing board.”
Bred by the late Michael T. Martin and foaled at Highcliff Farm in Delanson Willet is out of Katina K, a winning daughter of Distinctive Pro out of New York-bred Grade 3 winner Darlin Momma (Night Invader). Katina K has produced four winners from four starters, including 10-time winner Dr. Quirk (Tomorrows Cat) who earned $159,305. The mare’s most recent reported foal is a yearling filly by Majestic Warrior and in 2014 she was bred to Warrior’s Reward.
