Just Got Out gets in a Ladies Handicap triumph

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - When Linda Rice re-claimed Just Got Out for $20,000 last July, she thought she was getting a horse that ultimately would be useful during the winter meet at Aqueduct.

“I thought she’d be good property here this winter,” Rice said. “Not necessarily a stakes winner.”

But, in her 41st career start and first as a 7-year-old, Just Got Out became a stakes winner, gutting out a neck victory over Girl Talk in the Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct. Sherini finished third, but was disqualified to fifth by the stewards after she interfered with fifth-place finisher Inconclusive in deep stretch. Bombshell, who finished fourth, was elevated to third and Inconclusive was moved to fourth.

Manny Franco rode Just Got Out to victory, his third of what would become four wins on Sunday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct.

The win was the 10th from 41 starts for Just Got Out, who has been claimed eight times in her career. Rice claimed Just Got Out in 2016 for $16,000 and ran her twice for $25,000 without winning. Rice took Just Got Out back last July for $20,000. Rice owns the daughter of Harlington with Rob Stone’s Sacandaga Stable.

Rice said she didn’t want to lose Just Got Out in a claiming race right away so she entered her several times as a main-track-only entrant in turf races at Saratoga that never came off the turf. Just Got Out ran three times this fall in first-level allowance races, winning her most recent one by four lengths on Nov. 25.

Though Just Got Out had run twice at 1 1/8 miles without success, Rice noticed that the filly had a lot of stamina, which led Rice to believe she could be effective at that distance.

Rice wanted Manny Franco to put Just Got Out on the lead in the Ladies. She grew a little concerned when he had to work pretty aggressively to wrest the lead from Sherini and Bombshell through an opening quarter in 24.52 seconds. Just Got Out was able to slow things down through a half-mile in 49.40 and six furlongs in 1:14.64.

At the top of the stretch, Bombshell, under Junior Alvarado, drew on even terms with Just Got Out. Rice admitted to getting nervous.

“It looked like Junior Alvarado had quite a bit of horse outside of her,” Rice said. “I was concerned because Manny was asking her at the half-mile pole, but I thought maybe Bombshell wouldn’t get the distance and that helped. One thing about this filly she can get the distance.”

Bombshell faded in the final furlong, but Girl Talk was rallying under Kendrick Carmouche - but couldn’t catch Just Got Out.

“Last time when she won with Jose [Ortiz], they passed her and she came back,” Franco said. “She’s the kind of horse that you have to ride her and she will give you more. I never gave up on her and she got the win.”

Just Got Out covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:55.32 and returned $8 as the third choice after being favored throughout much of the wagering.

Rice was able to run Just Got Out in the Ladies because that mare is based at Aqueduct. Rice’s Belmont Park barn is under quarantine due to the fact one of her horses tested positive for equine herpesvirus (EHV-1). Horses that Rice has in barn 44 cannot run until the quarantine is lifted. For that reason, Rice had to scratch Crimson Frost.

“Absolutely, it’s been frustrating,” Rice said. “Hopefully, it’s just a little bump in the road.”