She’s Country rises on time in the Key Cents, NYRA Photo
Christian Abdo
West Point Thoroughbreds, James Politano and LVD Racing’s She is country fell out between rivals, late to nail it Cosmic Candy Girll and win the $125,000 Key Cents, a one-mile indoor turf course for New York-bred young fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack on Thursday.
She’s Country, a six-length state-bred debut winner who ran 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga Race Course in August before a final fourth-place finish in September’s Selima at Laurel Park, was one of three George Weaver trainees in Thursday’s field, along with Boomington [third] And Fancy lights [fourth].
“She was a little excited at first, but then she moved into the supine position and it seemed like she was traveling nice and comfortable,” said Peter Gulyas, Weaver’s assistant. “She found an opening and really got into it. She’s only two years old and still learning – she was a bit aggressive in the paddock and when she went out she was more settled and relaxed.”
Piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, the Combatant dark bay left the interior post with a slight jump in, but settled into stalking position as stablemate Fancy Lights set the pace while being pressured by Holy Goddess through an opening quarter mile in 24.11 seconds over the surefoot.
“The pace was slow. To be honest, I didn’t have the best break. She jumped out of the gate and lost a little momentum,” said Castellano, who came on board for the first time in the afternoon. “I see everyone going into the first corner. I don’t want to steer away from there, just have a ‘Plan B’ and sit behind George Weaver’s other horse.”
She’s Country saved ground at the back in third as the Kendrick Carmouche-driven Cosmic Candy Girl traveled the half mile to her outside in 49.79. In the second turn, Fancy Lights had the lead, while Sacred Goddess faded as She’s Country improved to second within that rival, while Cosmic Candy Girl lapped on the outside as three-quarters passed in 1:14.75.
“I was behind and saved all the ground,” Castellano said. “I like the way she developed in the race, nicely behind the two horses and inside on the rail.”
Fancy Lights led by half a length at the eighth pole, but She’s Country and Cosmic Candy Girl overtook her as the field neared the wire. Cosmic Candy Girl narrowly took the lead in the last sixteenth, but between her and Fancy Lights was She’s Country, who lunged in the final jumps to put her head forward, in a final time of 1:38.70.
The favored Boomington closed for third half a length behind Cosmic Candy Girl, nose back to Fancy Lights in fourth. Maria Callas, Neshika, Attentive city, Mrs. Moxee and the Holy Goddess completed the order of finish.
‘I see the horse [Cosmic Candy Girl] blew by outside and said, ‘I’m going to finish second, but [then]My filly is coming back,” Castellano said. “She put up a bit of a fight and the fight could go either way, but it looked like my filly stuck her head all the way out. I said, “I think I got lucky this time.”
‘It seemed to me like he [Carmouche] had the momentum, like he was making the jump. But for some reason his horse was hanging outside and my horse fought again to get the bob,” Castellano added.
She’s Country, in the 1 1/16 mile Selima, was beaten 6 1/4 lengths by Ultimate Love, who abandoned that effort to finish fifth favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“Today I like it because she doesn’t have to be in the lead,” Castellano said of Thursday’s victory. “She can go behind horses, gain ground, teach her something, finish well and be between two horses in the battle for victory. I think she will take a big step forward.”
Carmouche said the Jim Ryerson-trained Cosmic Candy Girl suffered a defeat when she earned a third-out diploma here on Sept. 27.
“I had a perfect trip, but I wasn’t a winner today,” said Carmouche. “She put her head right against the wire, Javier’s horse. That’s how it went, but she did everything perfectly. I was very happy with her. She’s such a nice filly.”
Bred by Twin Oaks Bloodstock, an $80,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training, She’s Country is out of the Malibu Moon mare Lunar Affair, while her stakes-placed second dam, Magical Affair, is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Mystic. She won $68,750 as she improved her record to 3-2-0-0 and returned $9.70 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Friday at Aqueduct Racetrack with a nine-race card featuring the State-bred $125,000 Notebook in Race 5. The first post is at 12:10 PM Eastern.
America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the FOX Sports networks. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, go to https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.
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