NEWS: RACING

Sheriffa overcomes poor break to win NYSS Staten Island

Sunday, November 15th, 2015
NYRA/Adam Coglianese

NYRA/Adam Coglianese

By Sarah Mace

Sheriffa managed to overcome a poor break to win the seven-furlong Staten Island Division New of the York Stallion Stakes Series for New York-sired fillies and mares at Aqueduct on Sunday. The victory also represented a decisive rebound from a sub-par performance at Belmont on September 19 in a second-level open allowance/optional claiming race following a four-month layoff.

Ridden by Cornelio Velasquez on Sunday and well-supported by bettors as the 5-2 favorite in the field of eight, Sheriffa got off last after rushing the gate then backing up at the bell. Making her way up into sixth, then fourth along the backstretch run, Sheriffa tracked the vanguard in the three path while 3-1 Vicki’s Dancer carved out opening fractions of 23.10 and 46.07.

Asked for more at the quarter pole, the chestnut filly rallied into contention in upper stretch on the grandstand side. She grabbed the top spot in the final furlong and edged away for the victory.

Saythreehailmary’s closed well from fourth to gain second, but could not get closer to the winner than one length. The top pair were followed across the finish line by Old Harbor in third. Completing the order of finish were Dreamboat Annie, Take Issue, Familyofroses, Vicki’s Dancer and Storied Lady. After six panels in 1:10.65, the final time for seven furlongs was 1:23.57. [VIDEO]

Velasquez said, “I thought my filly was the best filly in the race. She broke slow and backed up right before the gate opened. I had no choice, but to run her behind the 3 [Old Harbor] at that point, but she ran a big one today. When she got to the lead she galloped.”

Linda Rice reported, “I was sick to my stomach [after the break]. She kind of outbroke the gates, popped them open and got off awkwardly but Cornelio sat patiently and got the job done anyways. So it was fortunate.”

A 4-year old daughter of top New York sire Posse (Rockridge Stud), Sheriffa was claimed by trainer Linda Rice for Antonino Miuccio in September 2014 for $16,000 out of a winning effort in a Belmont sprint. An open-length frontrunning victory in the one-mile $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes at Belmont turned her into a stakes winner.

Sheriffa is an honest and consistent runner, finishing out of the money only twice in nine starts since the claim, including the race just prior to the Staten Island. Rice felt that Sheriffa had a valid excuse for finishing seventh out of eight in that open second-level allowance/optional claimer. “She had gotten a virus, mild pneumonia, after she won the Critical Eye,” said Rice. “I think she needed more time to recover, she just wasn’t as ready as I thought she was last time. The conditioner added, “She’s been a great claim. There’s always quite a few we don’t talk about, but she’s one of the good ones. ”

Sheriffa’s second stakes victory in the Staten Island improves her 18-race career record to six wins, three seconds and five thirds with $415,034 in earnings.

Bred by Colts Neck Stables LLC and foaled at Vinery New York in Hudson, Sheriffa is one of two winners produced by Smileforamile, a winning Virginia-bred daughter of Unbridled’s Song. Her filly by Orientate, Love Your Smile, has won seven races and earned nearly $200,000 sprinting.

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