Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
By Sarah Mace
Masie Stable homebred Miss Matzoball (Smoke Glacken) made her stakes debut on Saturday a winning one when she got up in the final strides to land a victory in Gulfstream Park’s $75,000 Captiva Island, a 5-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares.
A three-time winner going into the Captiva Island, 4-year-old Miss Matzoball was coming off a career-best performance for trainer Roy Lerman, a 1 1/2-length victory in a second-level allowance race at Gulfstream on February 14 under Javier Castellano at the same trip as the Captiva Island. Partnered with Edgar Zayas on Saturday she was drawn in post five of eight and sent off at generous odds of 9-1.
Though bumped at the break, Miss Matzoball managed to settle nicely into stride behind the pacesetters, while an eager Maggiesfreuddnslip pulled her way to the front in the three path and led the field by 1 1/2 lengths through a first quarter in 21.19 and a half in 43.02.
Clear of traffic, Miss Matzoball worked her way up into fourth approaching the quarter pole while the top two betting choices caught up with Maggiesfreuddnslip, favorite Jewel of a Cat on the outside and second-choice Katie’s Kiss on the inside.
Maggiesfreuddnslip bore out in the turn, carrying Jewel of a Cat with her. Katie’s Kiss then scooted into the lead on the inside. Miss Matzoball came through in-between the new leader and a recovered Jewel of a Cat, with a determined final bid.
Coglianese Photos/Leslie Martin
Surging in the final sixteenth, Miss Matzoball outsprinted Jewel of a Cat for second and overhauled Katie’s Kiss in the final strides to get up to win by a half-length, stopping the clock at 54.92 for a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98.
“She’s a nice filly,” winning trainer Roy Lerman said. “She’s only run one poor race, her first start when she bled at Saratoga as a 2-year-old. She’s always right there and very honest, very calm. She’s easy to be around. She’s more like a pony really.”
Lerman continued, “I knew Maggie had extreme speed, quicker than any of these other horses. I thought if she made the lead she’d be very tough to get by. It didn’t work out that way, but it set up for Miss Matzoball because she’s very handy. She’s quick, but not with extreme speed. You can put her wherever you want.”
Now a four-time winner with two seconds and a third from 10 starts, Miss Matzoball has earned $181,527.
Foaled at Stone Bridge Farm in Gansevoort, Miss Matzoball is the first foal out of Miss Matzo, a Maryland-bred daughter of Royal Academy who was unplaced in her single career start. Miss Matzo has produced three other fillies, a 3-year-old by Girolamo named Moonshine Cate, a two-year-old by Girolamo named Kinky Sox and a Proud Citizen yearling named Citizen Matzo. She was bred to Gio Ponti last year.
Thanks for a wonderful article. It was a great day for Miss Matzoball — and a wonderful win of a New York Bred in an open stakes race in Florida. New York Breds are a powerful part of the horse world. And, we can’t wait to bring Miss Matzoball back to Saratoga in a few weeks for the time ahead at NYRA. And, her sisters – Moonshine Cate (3 year old) and Kinky Sox (2 year old) are ready to rock!