Virgin Colada is a virgin no extra, scoring her maiden win at Saratoga Race Course in her first begin July 21 and becoming into the plan of her proprietor.
Racing for John Stewart’s Resolute Racing, the 2-year-old Extra Than Prepared filly lagged behind the 10-horse subject via a lot of the 1 1/16-mile interior turf course race. Flavien Prat rode the rail, easing Virgin Colada first a path or two out heading into the far flip, then on the high of the stretch taking to the far exterior to launch the filly’s visually spectacular run from the eighth pole to win by a half-length.
Race caller Frank Mirahmadi made the a lot of the horse’s connections, noting that Virgin Colada was “closing resolutely.”
Skilled by Chad Brown, Virgin Colada was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding and offered to Stewart for $100,000 on the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. She had not met her reserve at Fasig-Tipton’s The Saratoga Sale, bringing a remaining bid of $275,000. She’s out of the unraced Carpe Diem mare Episcopal , who as a daughter of Song of Bernadette (by Bernardini) is a half sister to a number of grade 1 winner Catholic Boy (by Extra Than Prepared).
Extra Than Prepared, who sired 216 stakes winners, stood at WinStar Farm till he died in 2022 because of the infirmities of previous age. He was 25.
“We preferred the best way she regarded on the sale, and her pedigree,” stated Stewart. “She developed properly, and she or he’s received a very nice bodily. You noticed that fast flip of foot within the stretch. She handed six or seven horses, and she or he needed to be actual affected person as nicely.”
Virgin Colada’s win got here a day after Stewart’s 3-year-old filly Pounce (Lookin at Fortunate ) gained the Lake George Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga.
Stewart stated that final September he owned one horse. Now, he owns 130, together with 43 in coaching and 23 yearlings. And he is not executed, as he is deep in preparation for the Fasig-Tipton gross sales in Saratoga in August.
“I have been via the catalog, and I noticed 5 or 6 which might be going again with us for positive,” he stated.
Stewart’s plan is to create a global secure of elite runners. Having just lately bought the previous Shadwell property in Kentucky and an adjoining parcel of land, he is contemplating constructing his personal coaching middle.
“I am on the lookout for dominance on the turf with fillies and mares,” he stated. “I need to compete on a global scale. We’ll purchase filth horses for the traditional races, however we’ll actually be targeting turf. My first thought when Pounce gained yesterday was, ‘Australia!’ “
The Belmont Racing Pageant was Stewart’s first time in Saratoga, when Didia (Orpen) gained the New York Stakes (G1), and he is run 4 horses thus far on the summer season meet, with two wins and a 3rd.
“It is a terrific ambiance right here,” stated Stewart. “It is completely different from Kentucky horse racing, and I like that a lot of it’s exterior, like a picnic or a carnival, and the followers are unbelievable.”
