Soloshot splits rivals to earn nose victory in Cupecoy's Joy Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Soloshot, much improved since trainer Lolita Shivmangal switched her to grass for the first time earlier this spring, parlayed her new found good form on turf and a perfectly judged ride by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. into a hard-fought nose victory over 6-5 favorite Geopolitics in Friday’s $150,000 Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct. Being Betty finished just a neck farther back in third.

Soloshot, a New York-bred stakes winner last summer at Finger Lakes, was haltered by Shivmangal in the interests of the Travis and Eddie Racing Stable for $32,000 out of a second-place finish over a muddy strip here on March 3.

After finishing far back in the East View stakes two weeks later, Soloshot moved to the turf for the first time and outran her 49-1 odds when finishing second after setting a contested pace against open entry-level allowance company, earning far and away a career best 81 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

On Friday, with Ortiz aboard for the first time, Soloshot rated in perfect position just off the early pace of Geopolitics while allowed to save ground from the outset. Soloshot eased off the rail and was able to find ample room to split Geopolitics and Being Betty through midstretch, then responded to strong handling to wear down the leader in the final strides.

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Geopolitics, the solid favorite despite coming into her stakes debut a maiden, controlled the pace while well held by jockey Joel Rosario. She repulsed a try from Being Betty around the final turn and through early stretch but could not resist the winner’s final surge.

Being Betty stalked the pace, took a run at Geopolitics leaving the bend, was not quite good enough but ran on with good courage and was actually coming back on the top pair at the end.

Soloshot, a 3-year-old daughter of Solomini paid $5.60 after completing six furlongs over a firm course in 1:09.03 seconds.

“It was the mom’s breeding,” Shivmangal said about trying Soloshot on grass. “We saw the mother ran four races, three were on turf and she placed in every one.

“I was very confident in her [today], and having Irad on, I knew she would run big. And she did. I’m very, very proud of her.”

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