Donita's Ruler gives Blane Servis first career stakes in My Juliet

Blane Servis won the first stakes of his career with his first stakes starter in the My Juliet at Parx Racing on Saturday.

Servis, 27, is the son of Parx-based trainer John Servis and the nephew of trainers Jason Servis and Eddie Plesa Jr.

Blane Servis worked for his father for 10 years before going out on his own in 2013. Servis had 10 horses Saturday morning, but his stable was reduced to nine a race before the My Juliet when Darn Quiet was claimed from him for $5,000. He now is 15 from 84 in his career.

Servis won the My Juliet with the 18-1 Donita's Ruler, a 4-year-old filly he claimed for $25,000 out of her last start April 27.

"She was doing good, looking good, training great," Servis said about jumping Donita's Ruler up to stakes company. "We knew she was much improved from when we claimer her. The question was if she was going to fit with these horses. She ran a big race."

Donita's Ruler went right to the lead in the $75,000 My Juliet, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. She was pressed from the outside early by Sweet Abandon, who at 24-1 was the longest shot in the six-horse field, but spurted clear in upper stretch and was not seriously challenged thereafter while winning by 3 1/4 lengths.

Galiana, the even-money favorite, was taken to the outside for the stretch run and finished willingly for second. Galiana was returning on eight days' rest after winning the May 15 Skipat Stakes at Pimlico.

Tea Time, the 2-1 second choice, finished third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Galiana. She's Ordained was fourth, 3 1/2 lengths farther back, after finishing third in the Skipat eight days ago.

Donita's Ruler was timed in 22.68 seconds, 46.29, 58.99, and 1:12.70. She paid $38 and earned $45,000 for owners Robert O'Hara and Gwyneth Gower.

"It's nice to win a stakes," Servis said. "But I like winning every race, no matter what the level. We've had a lot of seconds and third the last few months, so it feels great to win this one."