Laurel Park: My Wandy's Girl prevails in Barbara Fritchie Handicap
My Wandy’s Girl, dull without an apparent excuse in her return from a long layoff 2 1/2 months ago, regained the form that made her a female star in Puerto Rico in time for Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.
Winless in three starts last year after going 13 for 17 in Puerto Rico during her first two seasons of racing, My Wandy’s Girl drew clear in deep stretch to pull away from 2-1 second choice La Verdad and 9-5 favorite Centrique in the seven-furlong stakes for fillies and mares.
A year ago, My Wandy’s Girl finished second in the Fritchie as the 6-5 favorite and followed up with another runner-up performance in the Grade 2 Ruffian Handicap at Aqueduct in April. But when she returned from an eight-month vacation, My Wandy’s Girl was a dull fifth of six in the Garland of Roses at Aqueduct.
Trainer Mike Hushion took her to Florida to prep for the Fritchie, a race he won in 2008 with Golden Dawn and in 2011 with Harissa.
Part of an early pace battle with La Verdad, My Wandy’s Girl ($7.20) found herself in between that New York shipper and the Florida-based Centrique during the stretch run. Those three battled closely until My Wandy’s Girl dug down with a little more than 100 yards remaining and prevailed by a length, reaching the wire in 1:23.79. La Verdad, making her stakes debut and racing beyond six furlongs for the first time, saw her five-race winning streak snapped but held second by a neck over Centrique.
“She kept on trying hard,” said Rajiv Maragh, who was aboard the 5-year-old My Wandy’s Girl for the first time. “She held them all off.”
It was the 15th victory in 23 starts for My Wandy’s Girl, a daughter of Flower Alley owned by Guillermo Berrios. She has now earned $573,710.
Behemoth upsets Campbell Handicap
Behemoth, one of two horses sent off at 11-1 in a five-runner field, rallied from last to nose out 1-5 favorite and pacesetter Managed Account to upset the $100,000 John Campbell Handicap for older horses.
The 5-year-old Behemoth ($24.60) had been winless in his last eight starts and was making his first stakes appearance since he was eighth in the Vandal at Woodbine in his third lifetime start as a 2-year-old in 2011.
Trainer Claudio Gonzalez said he instructed jockey Victor Santiago to be patient with Behemoth, a son of Giant’s Causeway owned by his Michelle & Claudio Stable.
“The number one [Managed Account] looked too strong up front,” Gonzalez said. “If we fight with him, we will end up last. I told Victor to relax and make one move.”
In winning for the seventh time in 30 starts, Behemoth completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.59.