Wasted Tears Nearing Finish Line

Owner-trainer-breeder Bart Evans has traveled from coast to coast with his talented mare Wasted Tears, and last Saturday he brought the 6-year-old at Keeneland for a third time with a run in this Saturday’s $350,000 First Lady (G1) at a mile on the turf on the agenda.

“The perfect Hollywood script would be for her to win here and then take her back home (to Texas), where she was born, the next day,” Evans said.

Wasted Tears’ first Keeneland visit resulted in a Spring 2010 victory in the Jenny Wiley (G2) over Grade 1 winners Forever Together and Hot Cha Cha. Last fall, she finished fifth in the First Lady, beaten only 1¼ lengths.

Like last year, Wasted Tears comes to Keeneland off an eight-week layoff following the John C. Mabee (G2) at Del Mar.

“She likes a mile,” Evans said of the decision to return to Keeneland. “We have tried to go a little farther, but it didn’t work out for whatever reason. This seemed like a nice spot.”

Wasted Tears has raced only three times this year with her lone victory coming in the one-mile Ouija Board (G3) at Lone Star in May to begin her campaign.

“After she ran in the Matriarch (G1), I turned her out in a big wheat field at home,” Evans said. “She is nominated to the Matriarch this year as a backup, but this will probably be it. She has done enough.”

A daughter of Najran, Wasted Tears has compiled a record of 21-12-2-1 with earnings of $923,963. All of her victories have come on the turf, and her record at a mile is 11-6-2-0.

“She’s a good shipper and it doesn’t matter where she goes,” Evans said. “She’s fun to be around. I’ve enjoyed my time with her at the track and she tells you what she wants to do.”