R Disaster Blitzes Competition in Gallant Bloom
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
R Disaster cruises to victory in the Gallant Bloom Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
Coming into the $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes (G2) Sept. 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack, Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing, and Anthony Mattera's R Disaster had an exemplary record that included three narrow misses at the graded stakes level, and having never finished worse than second in 11 starts. But she was missing one thing—a graded stakes victory.
The 4-year-old Awesome Slew filly checked that box with emphasis Saturday, rolling to a 3 1/2-length victory over seven fillies and mares while stopping the timer in an eye-catching 1:14.78 for 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast dirt track.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., R Disaster broke smoothly from post 1 and went to the lead under light urging from rider Jose Ortiz. After running her first quarter in a comfortable :22.10 with her ears pricked, she went a half-mile in :44.73 as Don Alberto Stable's Senza Parole tried to press her from a length back on the outside, with Blue Devil Racing Stable's Patricia Ann another length back in third.
Yet to ask for his mount's best, Ortiz took a quick look back to his inside as he entered the lane three wide. Ortiz then urged his mount, and she responded, striking the 6-furlong mark in 1:08.53 as she widened her advantage through the wire.
"She was traveling very nice every step of the way and she was much the best," Ortiz said. "I give her all the credit today—the connections, Saffie ... I was just the passenger."
Patricia Ann, a 4-year-old filly by Enticed who went off at 27-1, stayed on for second to earn her first graded placing. It was another 2 lengths back to Mark T. Anderson's veteran New York-bred stakes winner Sterling Silver , who outfinished the Juddmonte filly Impel for third.
The winner paid $4.24 for a $2 win bet and improved her record to 7-5-0 in 12 starts, with earnings of $563,680.
"Didn't see that coming," the winning co-owner Mattera said. "We're always nervous, but when we saw even money, that New York money is always right, so we're happy to follow that. Couldn't be happier.
"You always say, 'Well if she throws a clunker today, she has already done so much for us.' We're not big-time owners, and she's a horse of a lifetime for me. It's incredible. Saffie is very transparent with us where he tells us where he thinks she has the best chance to win. We want to go out there and win stakes races, and this was impressive today. Jose did a great job.
"This is a dream come true. I grew up in south Jersey, so to come up here and win feels great."
Happy connections lead R Disaster to the winner's circle after the Gallant Bloom Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
R Disaster was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud and Michael O'Farrell Jr. Her sire Awesome Slew stands at Ocala Stud, where his 2025 stud fee was $4,000.