Dacita Nips Tepin in Thrilling Ballston Spa
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Photo:
NYRA
Chilean stakes winner Dacita may not have been well known to American race fans prior to Saturday evening's running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa, but she made a name for herself after flying down the stretch at Saratoga Race Course in the final strides to win by a nose over favored Tepin.
The 4-year-old filly, owned by Sheep Pond Partners and Bradley Thoroughbreds, was making her first start since December when she won the Group 1 Las Oaks Carlos Hirmas Atala in Chile going 1 ¼ miles on the turf.
On Saturday, Dacita stayed in the back of the field while her stablemate, Kitten's Queen led through the first quarter-mile in 23.77 seconds, the half in 47.35, and six furlongs in 1:10.78. Tepin took the lead coming down the stretch and looked like the winner until Dacita, still in eighth position with a furlong remaining, closed with a flourish nipping Tepin on the wire to win by a head.
Trainer Chad Brown was delighted with Dacita's performance.
"This filly ran terrific," said Brown. "She's been a little difficult to figure out in the morning. She's been steady in her works. I figured maybe she would need a race actually coming in here. It looked like a good spot to get her started because of the distance, timing, and turf. I thought Javier [Castellano] would fit her. Thankfully it just set up for us. They got up in time. I'm very pleased with the effort."
Dacita's final time was 1:39.67 for the 1 1/16-mile turf race.
"It was a good trip. It was her first time racing in the country. I put her in the clear, let her roll and she showed up," said Castellano. "It was my first time on this filly and I'm glad Mr. Brown gave me this assignment. She finished strong. The horses from Chile are usually good closers and I'm glad it worked great today."
Tepin finished second, followed by My Miss Sophia in third. Kitten's Queen, Coffee Clique, Solid Appeal, Night Song, Danza Cavallo, and New Providence completed the order of finish.
Dacita has now won seven races from 10 lifetime starts and the winner's $220,000 share of the purse more than doubled her lifetime earnings to $345,161. She paid $17 for a $2 win bet.
Source: NYRA Communications
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