Saratoga: My Jopia scores in New York Stallion Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston

My Jopia wins the Statue of Liberty under Ramon Dominguez.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - She had not raced in 102 days and showed only two workouts in the three weeks leading up to Thursday's $100,000 Statue of Liberty Division of the New York Stallion Stakes.

As it turned out, however, fitness was not an issue for My Jopia, who held off a late run from Manero to win by a nose the one-mile turf race restricted to 3-year-old fillies sired by New York-based stallions. It was a neck back to Halo Roo in third.

The complexion of the race changed at the gate when favorite I Bet Toni Knows was scratched by the track veterinarian after acting up in the starting gate.

My Jopia, a daughter of Utopia, had not been out since April 29, when she won a first-level allowance race going six furlongs on turf at Belmont Park.

"She needed some time for little problems nothing major, we gave her the time, and we were pointing for this race," said trainer Dominick Schettino, who won his first Saratoga stakes.

Under Ramon Dominguez, My Jopia stalked from second the modest pace established by Take It Inside. Approaching the quarter pole, Dominguez crept My Jolia up along the outside of Take It Inside, took over in upper stretch and held off Manero, who came with a late run under Jose Lezcano after being rank early on.

My Jopia, owned and bred by Robert Rosenthal and Bernice Waldbaum, covered the mile in 1:36.88 over an inner turf course labeled firm and returned $8.10 as the second choice.

It was the fourth win on the card and 30th of the meet for Dominguez, who opened up a 12-win advantage over Javier Castellano in the rider standings.