Thrilling Victory upsets stablemate in Albany Stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Thrilling Victory ($34.20) unleashed a strong closing kick, nipping odds-on stablemate Heavenly Humor at the wire for a major upset in the $58,275 Albany Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.

The 3-year-old filly, third to her stablemate in her last start at Bay Meadows, sat well off a four-way duel down the backstretch. Agentinisima set the pace with a 21.53 opening quarter with Heavenly Humor second, inside Jasmine's Gem and Yerevan Star as the four spread across the track.

Heavenly Humor was still between Argentinisima and Yerevan Star through a 43.72 half-mile and dueled with Yerevan Star down the stretch before beginning to edge clear. But Thrilling Victory, who saved ground around the turn, angled out in the lane and was flying. She caught her stablemate and won the six-furlong race by a neck in 1:08.44 with Yerevan Star third another 2+ (two one-half) lengths back.

"(Owner) Ted Aroney has been telling me to run her in sprints," said winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who saddled Thrilling Victory for a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Bay Meadows Oaks this spring.

"They went fast early, and Heavenly Humor was caught between horses. Thrilling Victory sat way off the pace. They both gave good efforts."

Thrilling Victory earned $36,650, improving her lifetime earnings to $143,120 with five wins in 10 starts.