Huasca Scores Decisively in Uanme

St. George Stables’ Huasca rebounded from a pair of runner-up finishes to score a decisive length victory in Sunday’s $75,000 Uanme Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The daughter of Tiz Wonderful had followed up a solid second-place finish in the Miss Preakness (G3) at Pimlico May 15 with a victory in the Tangelo Handicap upon her return to Gulfstream. However, Huasca had to settle for second money in the Azalea (G3) on July 5 and a runner-up finish in her turf debut in the five-furlong Summer Winds Aug. 16.

Sunday, the homebred gray filly turned in a consummate performance to notch her fourth lifetime victory in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

“We put her on turf last time to try it, because we didn’t have another race for her,” trainer Efren Loza Jr. said. “But she’s better on dirt and at seven furlongs, I think.”

Huasca, the 2-1 second choice, broke on top but assumed an outside stalking position as R Sassy Lass and Holywell advanced to forward positions along the backstretch. Jockey Eddie Castro asked Huasca for some run on the far turn and she quickly took the lead leaving the turn into the homestretch, challenged by 4-5 favorite and archrival Dogwood Trail and a wide-sweeping Distinta. After straightening out for the stretch run, Huasca sprinted to a clear lead in mid-stretch and held on to win by a comfortable margin over late-running Savingtime.

“I had a good trip. I kept her right there, close, and she settled. When the other filly put the pressure of me, I had to go,” Castro said. “She responded good.”

Huasca ran seven furlongs in 1:23.71, built on fractions of 22.67 seconds, 45.24, and 1:09.89.

"Today, I told Eddie to try to put her in front and set the pace, but he knows the filly very good,” Loza said. “The race started moving at the three-eighths pole and she ran to her works. She’s a very nice filly and Eddie knows her well.”

Savingtime, a 31-1 outsider ridden by Arny Fontanez, finished 3 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Distinta. Dogwood Trail, who had won her last two starts, including a triumph over Huasca in the Tangelo, faded to fourth.

Loza said he wait to see how Huasca exits her victory in the Uanme before deciding on a definite race.

“I’ll wait to see how she comes out of this race, but I might look for a graded stakes for her either out of town or keep her here,” Loza said.

Source: Gulfstream Park