Hamilton Enjoys First Graded Stakes Win With Fioretti
The morning after watching Two Hearts Farm and Don Janes’ Fioretti battle her way to a hard-fought victory in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), trainer Anthony Hamilton Jr. was still on cloud nine. The win was the first graded stakes victory and the first Keeneland triumph for the 32-year-old, who sent out his first starter in 2013.
“It was a great first win at Keeneland,” Hamilton said. “We’ve had a couple of seconds and had been close there but it was nice to get that monkey off our back, especially in the TCA. By far our biggest win.”
Fioretti, a 5-year-old daughter of Bernardini, chased the leaders through a half-mile, took the lead in the stretch and held off Heykittykittykitty and champion female sprinter Judy the Beauty to win by three-quarters of a length. The victory earned Fioretti entry into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
“She came out (of the race) great,” Hamilton said. “She wasn’t blowing, drank up most of her water. She’s on her toes today. We’re really happy with the way she came out.
“It’s nice to see a plan come together, you know? We had this race in mind since (winning) the Roxelana (at Churchill Downs on June 20). We mapped it out and skipped the Open Mind (at Churchill on Sept. 12), and it was all we could do not to enter that race and stick to the game plan. I’m glad we did.”
Hamilton has a string of 12 horses based at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, where Fioretti is expected to remain leading up to the Breeders’ Cup.
“We’ll probably stay over here for a least a while and then make that decision (on when to come to Keeneland) later in the month.”
“I’m toying with the idea of maybe shipping over,” Hamilton said. “I don’t think I’ll put too many works into her to be honest, probably one big work. Shipping over will probably hinge on the work schedule.”
Hamilton, whose family bred 1990 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) third-place finisher Valay Maid, said his team celebrated the victory over dinner Saturday night. He expects to start “three or four” more horses during Keeneland’s Fall Meet.
“We’re excited about the entire thing,” Hamilton said. “Couldn’t wait to get back here to the barns this morning and see everybody. The response has been great from everybody. To have that support from everybody coming up and saying congratulations has been pretty special.”
Fioretti also gave jockey Sophie Doyle her first Keeneland stakes victory.
Owner-trainer Wesley Ward said Judy the Beauty was fine Sunday morning after finishing third. It was her first defeat in five starts at Keeneland.
“We live to fight another day,” Ward said of the 2014 Eclipse Award winner as champion female sprinter. “There is a saying in racing that you have to have racing luck.”
Judy the Beauty was trapped in behind horses until deep stretch and got clear too late to catch Fioretti.
The 6-year-old Ghostzapper mare is the defending champion in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) that will be renewed here Oct. 31.
“You try to make a positive out of a negative,” Ward said. “If they had smoked it in like 1:08 and 4, maybe she would have done too much yesterday.”
Source: Keeneland Association