Meadowlands: Senorita Rita wires field in Kindergarten Classic Series final

Senorita Rita made two winning appearances in the Kindergarten Classic Series prelims at the Meadowlands this fall and then added to those performances with a 1:53 2/5 victory in the $251,020 final for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday night at The Big M. Senorita Rita led a sweep of the top two finishing positions for trainer Linda Toscano as she was joined by stablemate Dip Me Hanover in the exacta.

Driven by Scott Zeron and starting from post seven, Senorita Rita had to work a bit to clear pole-sitter Hall Of AM (Tim Tetrick), but was able to do so just before the 27 4/5 opening quarter. Senorita Rita faced no pressure in the second quarter, so Zeron was able to rate her along to the half in 56 3/5. Creature Of Habit would try things first-over out of fourth past the half-mile station, but she was only able to make it into a joint second with Hall Of AM at the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters, then began to fade in the lane.

In the stretch Senorita Rita continued to show the way, but Hall Of AM angled out from the two-hole to take a shot in the final eighth. It appeared like Senorita Rita was going to win anyway, but then Hall Of AM jumped it off in the closing strides, allowing Senorita Rita to cruise under the wire to score by a couple of lengths. Dip Me Hanover (David Miller), who tucked in third from post ten and stayed on the inside throughout, got up for second, with Creature Of Habit elevated to third, ahead of the breaking Hall Of AM.

"Tonight I let her see what we could do. Down the lane I asked her, and she maintained her speed right to the wire. She's really a sensational horse," said Zeron. "Linda's been very patient with her all year, and I've been on the front-end, but that's just because she's so easy to drive. I just want to stay out of trouble, so I've been putting her there, but she's versatile. That was only her seventh start of the year, and like I said, we've been patient with her. I'm excited for her next year, and maybe she'll have a little bit more left this year."

Toscano trains Senorita Rita, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for owner Ken Jacobs. Senorita Rita, who was bred by Our Horse Cents Stables and was purchased for $285,000 at the 2018 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has won five of her seven chances, and she has now put away $190,710. The 1-2 favorite, Senorita Rita paid $3.00 to win.

Senorita Rita is out of the unraced Donato Hanover mare Lindy's Head Nurse, a half-sister to two six-figure earners in Paging Doctorlindy and Jack Rules.

"That's trotting fillies. I think they either have it or they don't, and she has it," said remarked Toscano. "We decided to take it one start at a time. I believe she's a quality filly. I believed all along she was a quality filly. If she comes out of this race well, that's where she'll be going (the Goldsmith Maid)."

Toscano also trained Senorita Rita's sire and said of him and his progeny, "Chapter Seven could race any way, and I think all his offspring race pretty much any way you need to. They're just good horses. He's a good sire."