Dr B makes it look easy in Go For Wand

Dr B ran the race of her life, albeit in defeat, when shipping to Aqueduct for the first time to finish a game second in the Pumpkin Pie Stakes on Oct. 29.

So what did she do for an encore when returning to Aqueduct for Saturday’s $200,000 Go For Wand?

She ran even better, leading throughout over the sloppy oval to register an easy, 4 3/4-length victory over 2-1 favorite Bank Sting. It was Dr B's first graded stakes triumph and gave jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. a record 77th stakes winner of the year, surpassing the previous mark set by Garrett Gomez 15 years earlier.

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Dr B wasted little time by taking control of the one-mile Go For Wand leaving the chute. He disposed of the 73-1 Flight to Shanghai while still reserved approaching the stretch before readily pulling away from Bank Sting when sharply roused for the final furlong.

Bank Sting raced well-placed while three wide down the backstretch, continued well off the rail when sent after the leader turning for home, but proved no match while easily second-best. Betsy Blue rallied belatedly to finish third.

Dr B, a 4-year-old daughter of Liam’s Map, is trained by Robert (Butch) Reid Jr. for the partnership of Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC. She completed the distance over a sloppy track in 1:35.18 and paid $8.30 for her fifth win in 16 lifetime starts.

“We love that New York money, it’s worth that trip up the turnpike,” said Reid, who is based year-round at Parx Racing. “I didn’t know if she’d maintain the fractions; I was a little surprised she was on the lead, but she broke so sharp. She’s got a bit of a tender mouth on her and Irad [Ortiz Jr.] just did a tremendous job and let her do her thing."

Reid said he was uncertain what might be next for Dr B.

“This was a step in the right direction,” Reid said. ”She’s been stepping up and moving forward and we’re thinking of the Barbara Fritchie (at Laurel) as a possibility.”

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