Abientot goes last to first in winning Matron Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Abientot came with a strong stretch run under Dylan Davis to rally from last of 12 at the head of the stretch to first at the wire, running down Civetta by a neck to win the Grade 3, $175,000 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old filly turf sprinters at Aqueduct.

Civetta finished a half-length in front of Yougottahavehope, who finished three-quarters of a length in front 2-1 favorite Will Not Be Swayed.

The win was the second from five starts for Abientot, a daughter of Not This Time owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Mark Casse.

Davis has ridden Abientot in all of her starts. In the Matron, he was hoping to be midpack in this bulky field of 12. But the speed asserted itself with Flirting With Time, under Brian Hernandez Jr., setting a strong pace pursued by many including Laurice, Miriam’s Fire and Yougotthavehope.

Thus, Davis went to Plan B.

“I sat back, I tried to save as much ground as possible,” Davis said.

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But going into the far turn, Davis felt that plan wasn’t going to work either, so he swung the filly wide for the stretch. At that point, Abientot was last. But once in the clear, she kicked hard and was able to reel-in Civetta, who, under Flavien Prat, made the lead in deep stretch.

“I would have had a lot of ground to make up if I stayed on the inside, so I opted for the outside spot, gave her a clean run and she put on a performance,” Davis said. “She really mowed them down.”

Abientot covered the six furlongs in 1:08.31 (75 Beyer Speed Figure) over firm ground and returned $12.20 to win.

Trainer Mark Casse credited Davis with the decisions he made.

“I thought Dylan rode her great, was very patient, sitting back,” Casse said. “That’s kind of the way she ran when she broke her maiden at Saratoga. I thought it was impressive.”

Casse said he would not point Abientot to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, saying the five-furlong distance of that race is too short.

Casse said with Abientot having already made five starts this year, he may just give her a break and prepare for her 3-year-old season.

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