Vasilika Rises to the Occasion in John C. Mabee Stakes
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Photo: BENOIT PHOTO
Vasilika and jockey Flavien Prat win the John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar
Sometimes, when a racehorse gets good, the level doesn't matter. Sometimes a rise in class is answered with aplomb.
To be fair, Vasilika has been good for a while, but her connections have been patient with the 4-year-old Skipshot filly they claimed for $40,000 out of a Santa Anita Park grass race in February. She worked her way through allowance conditions, won a couple starter handicaps, and arrived in the $200,000 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) Sept. 1 at Del Mar on a five-race win streak.
Against the toughest field she's ever faced, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained filly moved into striking position on the turn for home and got a class test in the final furlong. Winter Quarter Farm's Cambodia, the 4-5 favorite and a three-time graded winner on the Del Mar grass, made her run on the outside in the stretch, but Vasilika kicked away late to win by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Flavien Prat.
"We walked over with a lot of confidence," Hollendorfer said. "We respect Cambodia and Vladimir Cerin's horse (third-place finisher Fahan Mura), but we thought we had a really good chance to win. She's been training so well and doing so well."
Sixth early, as Fahan Mura shot to the front and set fractions of :23.67 and :47.25 through a half-mile, Vasilika advanced between horses in the final turn of the 1 1/8-mile grass test, while Cambodia had to move four wide.
"I had to bide my time in the turn, but when I saw a hole, she gave me a great kick," Prat said. "Big race for her. Big effort. Very impressive."
Fahan Mura still had a 1 1/2-length advantage over Meal Ticket with a furlong to run, but Vasilika had momentum in the middle of the track and finished the distance in 1:47.25.
Cambodia didn't appear comfortable in tight quarters between and behind horses at the back of the pack during the backstretch run but got clear from the trouble in the final turn to make her run.
"I wanted to be closer than usual, but it didn't work out," said jockey Drayden Van Dyke, who rode the last-out Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) winner in ninth early. "Then, on the turn, I had traffic, but that's turf racing. The traffic cost me. She gave me a good kick ... but I was behind the winner all the way."
After starting her career on the East Coast, Vasilika came to California with trainer Robert Falcone Jr. (who claimed her for $32,000 at Aqueduct Racetrack a race before Hollendorfer put in for his claim). Now owned by Hollendorfer, All Schlaich Stables, Gatto Racing, and George Todaro, she pushed her earnings to $440,595 with her first graded win in her first try at the level. Bred in Kentucky by Mikhail Yanakov, out of the Marquetry mare La Belle Marquet, Vasilika has an 11-4-3 record from 25 starts.
After fourth-place Meal Ticket came grade 1 winner Sophie P, Achira, The Tulip, Madame Stripes, Midnight Crossing, Cheekaboo, and Vagabond Princess to complete the order of finish.