Aqueduct: Inner track lover Miss Da Point surprises in Judy Soda
For the second time in her career, Miss Da Point came back on short rest to upset a New York-bred stakes at Aqueduct.
Sunday, Miss Da Point, running back on 10 days’ rest, took over in upper stretch under apprentice rider Emmanuel Esquivel, opened up a large lead in midstretch, and won the $75,000 Judy Soda Stakes by three-quarters of a length over a late-running, but non-threatening Tahoe Tigress. It was three lengths back to Dreaming of Cara in third.
However, the stewards disqualified Dreaming of Cara from third and placed her fifth behind Hot Rendezvous. Entering the far turn, Dreaming of Cara, under Cornelio Velasquez, came over on Hot Rendezvous, who clipped heels with Dreaming of Cara, nearly unseating jockey Manuel Franco. Carameaway, who finished fourth and was coupled in the wagering with Dreaming of Cara, got moved up to third while Hot Rendezvous was placed fourth.
Meanwhile, Miss Da Point won her third straight race. It was her seventh win from 20 career starts and the fourth time in seven starts over the inner track. In December 2012, Miss Da Point won the Our Shopping Spree Stakes at odds of 9-2, five days after finishing fourth in a first-level allowance race.
Miss Da Point was ridden to victory by apprentice Esquivel, who recorded his first stakes victory in this, his 144th career win.
Miss Da Point is trained by John Toscano for owners David Clark and the Bran Jam Stable of Mike Mellen.
Miss Da Point ran a mile in 1:39.96 and returned $27.20 to win.