Room for Me Shows No Mercy in Garland of Roses

Even-money Room for Me found running room on the far turn and drew off to a convincing 3 ¾-length victory over Princess Violet on Saturday in the 30^th edition of the $100,000 Garland of Roses for fillies and mares at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

Content to run in third along the rail as longshot Jubilant Vision zipped through an opening quarter-mile in 22.52 seconds, Room for Me began picking up the pace on the turn when asked by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. and slipped through a seam to take aim on the pacesetter approaching the quarter-pole. Once clear, the 5-year-old daughter of Harlington then hit her best stride at the top of the lane and was never threatened as she crossed the finish line in 1:09.87 for six furlongs.

 

"We had a good trip," said Ortiz. "I broke out of there and [sat] third or fourth on the inside saving ground. By the three-eighths pole, I saw the horse in front of me getting out a little bit, so I took a chance and put myself in there. She got through and after that she took off, she did everything. That's the first time I've ridden her, she's a nice filly."

 

Since being claimed for $12,500 by owner-trainer David Jacobson in February, Room for Me has won five races including the Videogenic in March during the Big A's Claiming Championships and the Regret in August at Monmouth Park. Most recently she finished seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland.

 

"You always hope they'll turn out to be this good when you claim them, but this has been a pleasant surprise," said Jacobson of Room for Me, who also finished third in the Grade 1 Ballerina and second in the Grade 3 Vagrancy this year. "She had good form, was running decent looking races, so it was a nice horse to claim at the time. The intention was to bring her back for the Claiming Championship here in March.

 

"She banged her head on the gate in the Breeders' Cup," he added. "Victor [Espinoza] said that took her out of the race, but she still ran a really good race, getting beat five lengths after coming from dead last."

 

Room for Me returned $3.90 for a $2 win wager and extended her career record to 9-2-1 from 21 starts, with earnings of $423,400.

 

Princess Violet finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of La Madrina, who was followed in turn by Jubilant Vision, Classic Point, and Nuffsaid Nuffsaid. Medaglia d'Argento was scratched.