Bellavais Overcomes Adversity to Win Ginger Brew
Despite being accidentally hit with the whip of a rival’s jockey in deep stretch, Bellavais quickly regained her focus and momentum to capture the $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
“She just got hit in the face with the whip and then she went back at him like she was mad,” said jockey John Velazquez after providing the 3-year-old daughter of Tapit with a perfectly executed ground-saving trip in the 7 ½-furlong turf race for 3-year-old fillies.
It would have been a dream trip for the James Toner-trained filly had she not been hit by the whip of Leonel Reyes while urging on the tiring pacesetter, India Mantuana, during the stretch run. Bellavais threw her head in the air but recovered quickly to claim her first stakes victory by three-quarters of a length.
“I thought she jumped something, but Johnny said the rider hit her. She’s a tough little filly. She’s small but she’s very tough and competitive – that’s what makes her. That makes up for her lack of size,” Toner said. “She’s agile and she’s determined.
Bellavais, who ran the 7 ½ furlongs over a firm turf course in 1:30.37, had benefited from another horse’s misfortune after finishing second in her most recent race at Aqueduct when she was awarded her first career victory upon the disqualification of the winner, who had interfered with the third-place finisher.
Toner’s plan is to give Bellavais a break and point her to a stakes at Keeneland in the spring.
India Mantuana held second money, finishing 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Talk Logistics.
Sunday’s Rainbow 6 Carryover Jackpot Swells to $91,025: The 20-cent Rainbow 6 went unsolved for a fifth straight racing day Saturday, producing a $91,025.20 carryover jackpot for Sunday’ 11-race program.
Multiple tickets with six winners Saturday were each worth $3,962.98.
The Rainbow 6 carryover jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. However, on days when a mandatory payout is scheduled, the entire pool is shared by those holding tickets with the most winners.
There will also be a Super Hi-5 Carryover of $28,932.77 for Sunday’s first race.
Who’s Hot: Javier Castellano scored three wins on Saturday’s 11-race card, guiding Made You Look ($4.40) for a victory in the Grade 3 Palm Beach in the fourth race and Sonic Mule ($11.40) for a triumph in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man in the ninth race, as well as visiting the winner’s circle following the eighth race aboard Taperge ($8.20).
Corey Lanerie scored back-to-back aboard Fire for Effect ($11.40) in the fifth and Creative Courage ($7.40) in the sixth. Tyler Gaffalione also doubled aboard Gran Weekend ($27.80) in the second and Shezaprado ($11) in the 11th.
Source: Gulfstream Park