Hold your breath, NYRA photo
Keith McCalmont
Main Line Racing Stable and Avalon Racing Stables’ Hold your breath turned every pole into a winning one to secure her first career victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Garland of Roses, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3 years and older, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by John Servis and driven by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, the 3-year-old McKinzie entered dark bay with a dominant optional claim score of 9 3/4 lengths against seniors on Nov. 12 at Parx Racing, earning a career-best 87 Beyer Speed Figure. She is now 2-for-2 since returning to the dirt after five starts on turf or turf.
Hold Your Breath left the outer post 7 in the Garland of Roses to claim command of an opening quarter mile in 22.93 seconds over the fast main circuit at 3-2 head-to-head favorites, with the Angels stalking from second position.
With the Angels increased the pressure during the turn Sunday girl he launched a wide run as Hold Your Breath marked the half-mile in 46.07 and reached the stretch call with a heading advantage.
The Flavien Prat-driven With the Angels were chased in vain as a stubborn Hold Your Breath continued to search further up the track and sprinted clear late to win by two lengths in a final time of 1:09.76. With the Angels the exacta finished with 3 1/4 lengths more Patricia Ann with sunday girl, Volleyball princess, Difficult mood And The Great Calhouna complete the order of finishing. Reliable lady was scratched.
Rosario said Hold Your Breath, who had disappeared from the board on three previous betting attempts, was quickly off the fence.
“We were in a good spot on the outside. She came out of there running nice. She ran really well. She had a different gear and the whole time she was there for me,” Rosario said. “It seemed like there was another horse or couple with speed, but man, she was fast. She got out and it looked like she wanted to go, and she loved being up there. Then I just let her do her thing and she just took me for a ride. That was fun.”
The Linda Rice-trained, New York-bred sophomore filly With the Angels won her first five starts, including a trio of state-bred stakes. She entered the Garland of Roses on a quick turnaround after being beaten last for the first time when second to Roswell, facing the seniors here on November 28 in a 6 1/2 furlong optional claimer.
Prat said With the Angels was in a good position all along.
“I was doing well and I had a good trip. It looked like I was going home. I had the opportunity to pass, but they [Hold Your Breath] was enough to keep going. She [With the Angels] I rode a good race,” said Prat.
The victory marked the fourth career win for Hold Your Breath, who graduated on the first ask at Parx last November and also won an optional grass claimer at Saratoga Race Course in June.
Hold Your Breath, a half-sister to the multi-stakes-placed My Sweet Affair, is out of the Midnight Lute mare Illicit Affair. Her second mother is Hall of Famer Silverbulletday.
Hold Your Breath, bred in Kentucky by Highclere Inc., Constance Wickes and Rocky Top Racing, took home $82,500 while improving her record to 9-4-0-0. She returned $8.08 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes at the Big A on Wednesday with an eight-race card. First post is 12:40 Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races presents live coverage and analysis of Aqueduct Racetrack’s fall competition on the FOX Sports networks. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
NYRA Bets is the official betting platform of Aqueduct Racetrack and the best way to bet on every race this fall. The NYRA Bets app is available to horse players nationwide and can be downloaded today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
#Hold #breath #threads #Garland #Roses