By Sarah Mace
Libreta, a daughter of former New York sire Girolamo bred by Darley and foaled in Kentucky, scored a determined victory in this year’s running of the 6 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Park Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes series at Aqueduct on Saturday.
Making her second start of the year for trainer Tom Albertrani and fifth career start overall, the bay filly was looking for her second win. A decisive maiden-breaker at 6 1/2 furlongs last September at Belmont Park, she tired to last when ambitiously spotted in the Grade 2 Matron in her final start of the year. Runner-up in a Gulfstream Park allowance for her seasonal debut in early February, she was reunited with regular rider Luis Saez for the Park Avenue after a brief freshening. She was sent off as the 13-1 fifth choice in a formidable field of seven 3-year-old New York-sired fillies.
After exchanging a few bumps with neighbors out of the gate from post two, Libreta vied for the lead along with pacesetter She’s All Ready, Behrnik’s Bank and Wonderment for the first part of the run up the backstretch. After a quarter mile in 23.35, Libreta dropped back into the pocket and saved ground through the far tur through a half in 46.77.
Angling out at the quarter pole for the drive, she closed ground on She’s All Ready. With the outcome nip and tuck through midstretch, Libreta overhauled her rival just past the sixteenth pole to get the win by one length in a final time of 1:18.58. She’s All Ready finished second, followed by Frosty Margarita, Gregorian Gold, Madame Maybry, Behrnik’s Bank and Wonderment. [VIDEO]
Saez reported, “I used to ride the filly and I always used to try to put her in front because she wins in front. Today was different, there was too much speed so we had to decide to stay back and come from behind. When we came to the three-eighths, she responded. I had the horse and when we got to the stretch, we had the pace to let her run and ask her and she responded.”
Pedro Matteo, assistant to winning trainer Tom Albertrani, said, “I told Luis, ‘You know the filly,’ so I didn’t have to say too much. He told me there was a lot of speed in the race, so he was going to try and take back. The filly is nice; she’s got a lot of potential. We were disappointed last year when she was [sixth in the G2 Matron], but she came back in Florida and finished second. She’s been here a week, and has been training well. Tom picked out a nice spot for her.”
Libreta is the first foal out of Enrichment, a placed Ghostzapper mare also bred by Darley in Kentucky. Libreta’s first stakes victory improves her record to two wins a second and third from five starts and boosts her earnings bankroll to $125,660.
