Evvie Jets holds off Technical Analysis in Perfect Sting Stakes
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ELMONT, N.Y. - Evvie Jets proved once again she’s tough to beat when allowed to dictate terms on the lead as she fended off a stalking Technical Analysis, the 2-5 favorite, to win Sunday’s $150,000 Perfect Stings Stakes by a half-length at Belmont Park.
Technical Analysis, who was taken back off Evvie Jets by Jose Ortiz after pressing for the opening quarter, had to settle for second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of Haughty. Tic Tic Tic Boom and Customer List completed the order of finish.
The win was the sixth from 20 career starts for Evvie Jets, a 5-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy. It was the fifth win from 13 starts for Evvie Jets since being claimed for $80,000 by trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci for owner Robert Amendola. Since the passing of Amendola in November 2022, Evvie Jets runs for his estate, headed by son Michael Amendola.
Evvie Jets was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, who on Saturday won the Grade 2 John Nerud aboard Three Technique and was beaten a nose on Saudi Crown in the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes.
Castellano put Evvie Jets on the lead and had Technical Analysis, making her first start since last October, pressing the pace to her inside. After the first quarter was run in 23.36 seconds, Jose Ortiz took Technical Analysis off the pace and guided her to the outside of Evvie Jets for a stalking trip.
Castellano said that enabled him to give Evvie Jets a little breather before Technical Analysis attempted to re-engage in upper stretch.
“You play the cards, you go aggressive to win the race or you go conservative and you’re lucky to finish second or third,” Castellano said. “I don’t see [anyone] take the lead, I took it myself, dictate the pace. My horse, she loves it. Every single step of the way, you could see the fractions, it wasn’t easy, it was fast and the way she traveled, she traveled really good. Turning for home, when I asked her, she responded.”
Kantarmaci said Evvie Jets “gets more comfortable on the lead” and when other horses come to her “she has the ability to answer,” he added. … “She has the ability to give that second kick.”
Evvie Jets covered the one mile in 1:33.99 over firm turf and returned $19.60 to win.
Evvie Jets will be part of Kantarmaci’s string in Saratoga. She would have two options upstate including the $135,000 De La Rose on Aug. 2 and/or the Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa on Aug. 24.
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