One or two more starts planned for Vasilika

DEL MAR, Calif. – Vasilika, who won her eighth graded stakes in the last 12 months in Saturday’s Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar, is scheduled to be sold at the Fasig-Tipton November sale in Kentucky on Nov. 4 and will have one or two more starts in the interim.

Sunday, co-owner and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said early autumn race plans have not been finalized for Vasilika. Asked if this would be the 5-year-old mare’s final season of racing, he said, “I think it is. We’d like to run her a couple of more times.”

Races such as the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 or the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at a mile on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 5 are under consideration.

It is unclear whether Hollendorfer’s stable will be able to race at Santa Anita. In June, he was told by track management to vacate his stalls after a fourth horse in his care was euthanized as a result of injuries sustained in racing or training since late December. Hollendorfer immediately relocated his stable to Los Alamitos, which allowed him to race and train there during the summer.

Hollendorfer received a temporary restraining order in late July that allowed him to stable and race at Del Mar’s summer meeting. The Hall of Fame trainer is seeking similar opportunities to race and train at Golden Gate Fields and could learn a court’s decision as early as Tuesday.

A court hearing regarding his status at Santa Anita is possible before the start of that track’s autumn meeting on Sept. 27. Hollendorfer declined to elaborate on the subject on Sunday.

“I have to leave that to the people that are helping me,” Hollendorfer said.

Vasilika closed from seventh in a field of 10 to win the $201,755 John Mabee Stakes by a nose over Juliet Foxtrot, who led by two lengths with a furlong remaining. It took several minutes for the photo finish to confirm the result.

“She was scooting along,” co-owner Mark Schlaich said. “I was in disbelief. To me, it was an inch.”

Vasilika won her first graded stakes in the 2018 Mabee, run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares. She won two more graded stakes in the fall of 2018, including the Rodeo Drive, and has won five graded stakes this year. At Santa Anita in May, Vasilika won her second Grade 1 race in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Vasilika is co-owned by Gatto Racing and George Todaro and was claimed for $40,000 in February, 2018. Since then, she has won 13 of 16 starts and earned $1,353,524.

By Skipshot, Vasilika became the first repeat winner of the Mabee since Flawlessly won three consecutive runnings from 1992 to 1994 when it was known as the Ramona Handicap.

“She’s as consistent as a horse can be,” Hollendorfer said.

Schlaich said the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 is likely to be Vasilika’s final start. She would be flown to Kentucky the following day for the Nov. 4 sale, if all goes as scheduled, according to Schlaich.