Selenite scores N.Y. Stallion Stakes win for Donk

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – By running three of the nine starters in the field, trainer David Donk figured to have a pretty good chance of winning Wednesday’s fillies’ division of the New York Stallion Stakes, and sure enough, he did – with the filly the pubic believed to be the unlikeliest of the trio, Selenite, who rallied under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to register a 1 1/2-length victory over 8-5 favorite Old Harbor.

Selenite finished behind four of her eight Wednesday rivals, including stablemates Lady Kreesa and Funky Munky Fever, in the previous leg of the turf series going seven furlongs at Belmont Park on June 22. But the added distance and perhaps a turf course softened slightly by rain earlier in the day made the difference, as Selenite won for the third time in as many starts going a mile on grass.

Ortiz allowed Selenite to relax in midpack off the pace of Henry’s Gal, angled her three wide while rallying into the stretch, was able to coax her to the lead inside the sixteenth pole, after which the pair gradually edged clear. Old Harbor, an easy 4 1/2-length winner over much the same group to capture her stakes debut six weeks earlier, raced in perfect striking position stalking the early leader but lacked the necessary closing response, although she did ultimately wear down Henry’s Gal to be second.

Lady Kreesa and Funky Munky Fever rallied from the rear of the pack to finish fourth and sixth for Donk.

Selenite paid $22.60.

“I think all three of my fillies have a future, and I’m just happy one of them was able to get the money today,” said Donk. “[Lady Kreesa] slipped really badly coming out of the gate. I thought she would be right up on the pace. And Junior [Alvarado] wasn’t happy with the turf for his horse [Funky Munky Fever]. I was disappointed how she [Selenite] ran last time, but I think seven-eighths, going one turn, wasn’t to her liking.”