Fondly must work for it, but takes Virginia Oaks
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She was a bad bet, but Fondly got the best of five rivals to win the $250,000 Virginia Oaks on Saturday at Colonial Downs.
While she overcame trouble to win her lone previous start, Fondly came into the Virginia Oaks with only a Tampa Bay Downs maiden victory behind her, a race that yielded a modest 72 Beyer Speed Figure. But for lack of better options and with popular connections behind her – jockey Irad Ortiz and trainer Graham Motion – Fondly went off the underlaid 6-5 favorite while stretching from seven furlongs to a one-turn 1 1/16 miles. It took some work, but she got the job done.
Breaking from the outside stall in a field reduced to six after Gowells Delight and Girl Math were scratched (both fillies were re-entered Saturday for the March 22 Fair Grounds Oaks), Fondly got away alertly and made an early lead before Anonima and jockey Nik Juarez came through along the inside to take over.
Fondly stalked her from second while racing over a glib surface, Anonima set splits of 23.49 and 46.58 and, after passing six furlongs in 1:10.59, she still held the lead. Anomima got one final boost after belatedly switching leads just before the furlong grounds, but Fondly steadily gained, caught the pacesetter in the final half-furlong, and pushed clear to win by a half-length.
Early On rallied late to nab Anonima for second, Anonima a half-length back in third and two lengths in front of fourth-place Icona Mama. You’ll Be Back, the 3-1 second choice, finished fifth, while Low Key ran last from start to finish. The top five earned Kentucky Oaks qualifying points distributed 50, 25, 15, 10, and 5.
That will be sufficient points to get Fondly into the Kentucky Oaks should Motion and owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners deem her worthy of the chance. Fondly’s 4-year-old brother Antiquarian won the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes last year over 1 1/8 miles, same distance as the Oaks.
“She had a beautiful trip, and she keeps coming all the way to the wire,” Ortiz said. “Everything worked out perfect for her today.”
Fondly clocked 1:42.51 over a fast track and paid $4.40. The filly is by Upstart out of Lifetime Memory, by Istan, and Eclipse bought her at a yearling auction for $50,000 before Antiquarian had shown the breadth of his ability. Fondly can run, too. She ran fast enough Saturday to win $150,000 and her stakes debut. The Kentucky Oaks is a different story.
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