Davila rides two maidens to victory in Aspirant, Lady Finger

The two stakes on Friday at Finger Lakes, the $115,749 Aspirant and the $119,613 Lady Finger, were each won on the lead by maidens who were ridden by John Davila Jr.

The stakes, both at six furlongs for New York-bred 2-year-olds, will produce starters for the biggest race of the Finger Lakes season, the $200,000-estimated New York Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 17.

Judging by Friday’s results, Aspirant winner Love That Jazz will have a lot to say in the outcome of the six-furlong Futurity. He was timed in 1:11.56, almost a second faster than the fillies went in the Lady Finger.

Love That Jazz outsprinted his five male rivals for the early lead from his outside post. He was never seriously threatened while winning by 1 3/4 lengths under a left-handed whip from Davilla, who is battling Jaime Rodriguez for leading rider of the meet.

Love That Jazz, trained by Steve Asmussen, was making his fourth career start. He had finished second, beaten a neck, in his June debut at Belmont Park; was fifth in the Rockville Centre Stakes at Belmont in July; and then third behind promising statebred debut winner Get Jets at Saratoga in mid-August.

Love That Jazz, a son of Not for Love, paid $9.30 as second choice in the Aspirant. His fractions were 22.17 seconds, 45.32, and 57.77.

Inside Straight, the 4-5 favorite, raced four or five lengths off the early pace, was asked to close the gap on the far turn by rider Joe Bravo, but could not. He then leveled off in the stretch and finished willingly to be third. He was beaten a half-length for second by Dr. Shane, who raced in contention throughout.

Sky Devil, who saved ground inside Dr. Shane to upper stretch, finished fourth, 1 3/4 lengths behind Inside Straight.

Lady Finger: Gregorian Gold breaks running

Gregorian Gold won the Lady Finger Stakes for her owner, trainer, and breeder Richard Lugovich.

Gregorian Gold had finished second in her debut after setting the pace in New York-bred maiden company at Saratoga. She broke sharply against her 10 filly rivals in the six-furlong Lady Finger, opened a clear lead during the opening quarter, came into the stretch well clear of the field, and then held off late closing Celestial Sighting to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

Gregorian Gold paid $5.50 to win as the favorite. She set fractions of 22.24, 45.61, and 58.47 en route to a final time of 1:12.51.

Celestial Sighting, the 2-1 second choice, was slow away from the gate, but finished well along the inner rail in a good effort to be up for the place by 1 1/4 lengths over Pont de l’Alma, who was never far back and chased the winner throughout.

Backwood Bay, the 3-1 third choice, raced four wide on the far turn and then flattened out to finish ninth.

Gregorian Gold, a daughter of Touch Gold, is based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland with Lugovich.

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