NYRA/Susie Raisher
By Sarah Mace
A picture of determination, Gold Square LLC’s (Al Gold) My Italian Rabbi (Competitive Edge) came out on the winning side of an epic battle in the featured $100,000 Stillwater Stakes for New York-bred juvenile fillies at Saratoga Race Course Thursday. After desperately trying to grind down heavily-favored Fierce Lady for three furlongs, My Italian Rabbi just would not settle for second and managed to get her nose down on the finish line first in the final strides.
Unveiled on May 30 at Belmont Park, My Italian Rabbi was well-prepared and scored a professional victory. She charged up early between horses to contest the pace after a slightly tardy break, shook off her rivals and strode out nicely in the stretch, to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 59.89 over good going. In anticipation of the 6-furlong Stillwater Stakes, run previously as the Lynbrook at Belmont Park, she posted four regularly-spaced interim works.
Trainer Jeremiah Englehart was upbeat coming into the race, while recognizing that the competition would be stiff. “It looks like a salty field. There’s a couple of nice fillies in there. But she’s training well, and I think she should move forward off that first race.” Reunited with debut jockey Luiz Saez, My Italian Rabbi was sent off at 8-1 odds.
The headliner of the Stillwater was another Competitive Edge filly, Fierce Lady, who was bet down to .35 cents on the dollar. Following a head-turning 6-length debut victory on June 22 she was designated a “TDN Rising Star.” Fierce Lady had been busy in the interim, however, shipping down and back to the Fasig-Tipton July selected horses of racing age sale, where she brought a final bid of $725,000, just below her reserve, which according to the DRF, was $749,000.
Fierce Lady broke on top from post two when the gates opened on the Stillwater, but My Italian Rabbi got in the hunt from the first from the three-hole, dogging the frontrunner through a quarter in 22.64.
With three furlongs to go, My Italian Rabbi engaged Fierce Lady directly and the battle – which would last to the finish line – was on.
NYRA/Chelsea Durand
Fierce Lady on the inside stubbornly resisted the pressure, matching every advance by a counter-advance, but My Italian Rabbi would not give up the fight. In the very shadow of the wire My Italian Rabbi’s final counter-advance won the day, as she secured the victory by a short nose in a final time of 1:10.31 over the fast track.
Christophe Clement-trained first time starter Jewel of Arabia finished 1 1/2 lengths back in third, followed by Classy Sadie and Time Limit, who went almost went to her knees at the break and veered out. Jen’s Battle was scratched. [VIDEO REPLAY]
Luis Saez applauded his mount’s talent and is excited about her prospects. “She broke very sharp. She was right there,” Saez said. “I just stayed with her when we came to the stretch. We were trying and she finally got it in the last jump.
“When she raced the first time, she proved she could run. Today, she really proved it, too. I think she can get more distance. She can relax and go anywhere. We have a nice one right here.”
Englehart was fully engaged in the epic stretch battle. “I didn’t know whether to root or not to root,” he said. “Every time I rooted for her, it seemed like she would drop back a little bit. Then, she started coming on, and just at that last jump, it looked like she was able to get the head bob.”
The conditioner was also gracious in victory, acknowledging that Fierce Lady’s extracurricular activities might have blunted her performance. “We probably didn’t get the best Fierce Lady today.” Englehart said. “She’ll probably be back and will be able to turn the tide. Kudos to Fierce Lady in defeat, I thought she ran really well.”
From her perfect two-for-two race record, the newly-minted stakes winner has earned $89,100. The $200,000 Seeking the Ante on August 23, Saratoga New York-bred Showcase Day could be next on My Italian Rabbi’s dance card.
My Italian Rabbi was bred Hidden Lake Farm LLC in partnership with Anthony Grey LLC and was foaled, aptly enough, in Stillwater at Hidden Lake Farm.
She is one of four winners from four foals to start and the first to earn black type out of Golden Miss, an unplaced Kentucky-bred daughter of Golden Missile, who was a $180,000 purchase as a yearling by B. Wayne Hughes.
A $47,000 buyback as a weanling at the Fasig-Tipton New York Fall Mixed sale, My Italian Rabbi brought $60,000 when offered as a short yearling at the OBS Winter Mixed sale last year. Travis Durr and Jeremiah Englehart acquired her in the summer at the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred preferred yearling sale for $160,000. Golden Miss has an unnamed yearling half-sister by War Dancer.
