New Year's Eve Grabs First Graded Victory in Edgewood
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
New Year's Eve wins the Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs
The occasional clap of thunder and a threat of an ever-deteriorating weather forecast did not dampen the spirits of hopeful owners and trainers on the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) undercard at Churchill Downs.
As the field of 10 fillies entered the gate for the $500,000 Edgewood Stakes Presented by Forcht Bank (G2T), the rain called a brief truce. A window of clear skies proved just enough time for 3-year-old New Year's Eve to upset the Edgewood field in a final time of 1:43.39, sailing across the finish line by 2 3/4 lengths.
Sent off at odds of 14-1 in her first graded effort, New Year's Eve broke at the rear of the field and was soon settled in the three path by jockey Luis Saez. At the front were jockey Jose Ortiz and Florida Oaks (G3T) second Spicer , who had cut in from post 7 to set the early pace. The pair held onto their lead by a solid length through the first half mile, setting fractions of :24.07 and :48.64.
Running just behind the early leader was My Filly Twirl, followed by An Agent Mistake and Florida Oaks winner Dolce Zel . With three-quarters of a mile gone in 1:13, My Filly Twirl had cut Spicer's lead down to a half-length but soon found herself pressed by Dolce Zel, who had moved up on the inside down the far turn and into the three path in the lane.
Biding her time at the back of the field, New Year's Eve made her own move around the far turn, blasting from eighth to third in the seven path, a maneuver that saw her racing widest down the lane. As the eighth pole approached, the filly kicked into another gear and blasted forward, overtaking the leaders to draw clear at the finish.
Taking advantage of the waning energy in the field late was McKulick who moved up from seventh in the final stages and left Dolce Zel in her wake by 4 1/2 lengths to take second. Dolce Zel held on for third, a half-length ahead of Kneesnhips in fourth.
"She relaxed really well," said Saez. "I was able to save ground around the first turn. I came out a little after a half-mile because I saw horses in front stopping. At the top of the stretch, she was in the clear and boom. She was loving it. I could feel how happy she was."
Prior to Friday's Edgewood win, New Year's Eve had raced exclusively at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana. Trained by Brendan Walsh and owned by Marc Detampel, the filly broke her maiden on first asking at 2 last December and won her next start just over a month later when she scored by a neck in a Jan. 29 allowance optional claiming race.
New Year's Eve's first attempt to score black type came in the March 12 Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stakes going about a mile on the grass. Brushed at the start of that race by an opponent, the filly trailed through much of the race before swinging wide in the lane as she tried to rally to the finish. She brushed with her rivals again midstretch but held on despite the bumpy ride to take third, just a length and a nose shy of the winner.
"She's been just a bit slow mentally. But she's getting it bit by bit," said Walsh. "So we gave her some time to figure things out; then we gave her a push. We put blinkers on her for her last two works, and she seemed to pick it up a bit. I was quietly confident that she'd be better today. And she was."
The connections of New Year’s Eve in the winner's circle after the Edgewood
"It's terrific. It's just unbelievable," said bloodstock agent Fergus Galvin, who was all smiles with the filly's connections in the winner's circle. "We came in knowing we were taking a shot—it was a tough field. Brendan had a lot of confidence in her. She showed a lot of promise in New Orleans this winter. She's probably found herself a little far back in her races, so Brendan put the blinkers on her today. I know she was still far back, but it got her into the bit a little bit more today. When she took off running around the far turn, she exploded.
"It's just fantastic. Marc (Detampel) is here with his family from Chicago. The weather held off for us just at the right time."
Galvin purchased the filly for Detampel as a yearling from the Gainesway consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. A modestly priced $105,000, New Year's Eve has more than earned back her original cost. The Edgewood score brings the filly's purse earnings to $353,600 for a 3-0-1 record from four starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Stud TNT, New Year's Eve is a daughter of Kitten's Joy out of the Elusive Quality mare, Awesome Rafaela . Galvin said the fact that the filly is a daughter of the Hill 'n' Dale stallion—who himself was champion turf male and a multiple leading turf sire in North America—meant the filly came highly recommended.
"We've had a lot of luck with Kitten's Joys for Marc, and I also purchase them for Qatar Racing as well," said Galvin. "She was just a really nice filly. Brian Graves at Gainesway recommended her highly."
In what could turn out to be a possible coup for the connections of New Year's Eve on the breeding end of the deal, Galvin had purchased her dam, Awesome Rafaela, some months earlier at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February Mixed Sale for only $95,000.
"We're happy that we have the family now," said Galvin.
Awesome Rafaela, in foal to Volatile, was offered to the February sale by Taylor Made Sales Agency .