Party Boat parlays perfect trip into Memories of Silver victory
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Graham Motion felt Party Boat was the victim of difficult trips in a pair of stakes defeats at Gulfstream Park this winter.
Sunday, at Aqueduct, Party Boat received a beautiful trip under Joel Rosario and parlayed it into a one-length victory in the $100,000 Memories of Silver Stakes. After riding the rail for the first six furlongs of the one-mile race, Rosario tipped Party Boat into the No. 2 path turning for home and she gradually wore down the pacesetting Team of Teams.
Team of Teams finished second by 3 1/2 lengths over Fifty Five, the even-money favorite, who had an extremely wide trip. Dynatail. Super Marina, and Art Institute completed the order of finish.
The win was the fourth from eight starts for Party Boat, a 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief trained by Motion for owner Hope Jones.
In two starts this year, Part Boat finished sixth, beaten four lengths in the Ginger Brew Stakes, and third, beaten a length in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park.
“I think she’s really honest this filly,” Motion said by phone from Maryland. “I think she just had some tough trips down there.”
Rosario had Party Boat in third while Team of Teams, under John Velazquez, set fractions of 24.47 seconds, 48.87, and 1:11.92 with Dynatail a length behind.
Team of Teams spurted away from Dynatail turning for home, but she could not fend off Party Boat.
“I got clear turning for home and I was just trying to hold it together,” said Rosario, who won three races, all on turf, on Sunday’s card. “She responded very nicely with a nice finish.”
Said Motion: “He gave her a super ride.”
Party Boat covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:42.05 and returned $9.30 as the fourth choice in a field of six.
Motion wasn’t sure what would be next for Party Boat. The next suitable race on this circuit is the Grade 3, $200,000 Wonder Again at 1 1/8 miles at Belmont Park on June 8.