Patience proved key for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. as his “plan B” turned into a winning ride for Juddmonte Farms homebred Segesta in the $200,000 Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack May 27.
Breaking sharp from the rail, it looked momentarily as if Ortiz would have the lead to himself. However, Jose Lezcano aboard Curlin’s Girl had other plans and moved up to challenge.
“On paper it looked like my filly’s the speed of the race, so I go out with that plan,” Ortiz said. “But if somebody wants it so bad, then I can go to plan B and relax.
“In the first turn, I felt like the pace was comfortable. I said ‘I don’t want to give up yet, let me wait a little longer.’ … The outside horse went for it. I just took a little hold and my filly came back to me and she settled. She relaxed and she waited for me.”
The move was wise as Curlin’s Girl flashed an opening quarter :22.91. Ortiz took up position in second but was soon challenged for that spot by the 3-5 favorite and stablemate Sweet Rebecca . Ortiz allowed her to chase after the leader and tracked third with Segesta from the rail.
After a half-mile in :46.91 and three-quarters in 1:11.41, it appeared as though Sweet Rebecca, who was very eager throughout under Tyler Gaffalione’s hold, was ready to mount her assault.
Despite the track being listed as firm, showery weather left the track wet. As the field approached the 5/16th pole, Sweet Rebecca lost her footing and slipped, ruining her momentum as she came off the bridle. She would fade to finish fifth.
“I’m hopeful she comes out of the race okay,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Tyler said after she took that step, she did not feel the same down the stretch, so fingers crossed she didn’t get injured.”
The mishap opened the door, literally, for Brown’s other trainee, Segesta.
“(Sweet Rebecca) was the filly to beat today. I sat there patient, waiting,” Ortiz said. “(When Sweet Rebecca took a bad step) she drifted a little bit. Left a huge space for me to go forward and I decided to go. It worked out perfect for me.”
Segesta passed a tiring Curlin’s Girl at the 3/16th pole and was emboldened by challenges from Sy B and Vive Veuve , battling them off for a hard-earned half-length victory. Sy B would finish second and Vive Veuve was third.
Segesta paid $10 for her victory while stopping the clock in 1:48.24 for the 1 1/8-mile distance.
The victory was the sixth for Brown in the Wonder Again, and his third in a row. The daughter of Ghostzapper broke her maiden at third asking April 21 at Keeneland and impressed Brown enough to bring her back in stakes company.
“The more I thought about it, she has the look of a horse that could stretch out—rangy, big stride on her,” Brown said.
Segesta improved her record to 2-1-0 from four starts with earnings of $173,675. Her first graded stakes win earned her an automatic spot in the July 6 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T), also held at Aqueduct.
Video
