Vasilika passes major class test to win Santa Anita's Gamely Stakes

Vasilika, now a winner of 13 of 14 races in the care of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, put an exclamation point on that total on Monday.

The former claimer surged late down the center of the track to win Santa Anita Park’s Grade 1, $500,000 Gamely Stakes. In doing so, she defeated some of her toughest competition yet.

In a major class test, it was a narrow second to the Chad Brown-trained shipper Rymska while upset-minded pace setter Ahimsa held on for third.

The final time under jockey Flavien Prat was 1:48.07 for nine furlongs after a masterful ride. Vasilika, a 5-year-old daughter of Skipshot, found herself between horses nearing the far turn before Prat took her back, then begin to rally on the outside.

"Prat didn't like where he was, so he let her drift back a little bit," Hollendorfer said. "He knows she has a big turn of foot, so that's why he thought he could get away with it."

With confident guidance, Vasilika swallowed up her competition in the stretch, adding a second Grade 1 victory to her resume.

That’s also now 4-for-4 this season in a year when the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf runs in Vasilika’s backyard at Santa Anita, where she's 11-for-12 on the grass.

"This one really ranks up quite well with all of them because Jerry has kept (her) going," said George Todaro, who campaigns Vasilika with Hollendorfer, Gatto Racing and All Schlaich Stables. "...As Jerry says, when they're happy, they run better."

Off at 8-5 in the field of eight, Vasilika paid $4.20 to win.