Vasilika delivers in Royal Heroine

ARCADIA, Calif. – Vasilika is approaching $1 million in earnings – since being claimed.

Vasilika ($2.60) won her third consecutive start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. Since being claimed for $40,000 here in February 2018, Vasilika has won 11 of 13 starts and earned $909,524.

In her career, Vasilika has won 16 of 31 starts and earned $1,058,585. The win in the Royal Heroine was worth $120,000 for owners George Todaro, Gatto Racing, All Schlaich Stables, and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

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With her race record in the last year, bettors expect Vasilika to win.

In the $200,702 Royal Heroine Stakes, Vasilika was 3-10 and ran accordingly. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Vasilika was third for the first six furlongs and rallied to take the lead in early stretch, winning by 2 3/4 lengths over 24-1 Meal Ticket.

The race was not without a touch of drama. Ms Bad Behavior, the 3-1 second choice, was pulled up on the first turn by jockey Mike Smith and was walked off the track.

“I guess he didn’t like the way she felt and pulled her up,” trainer Richard Baltas said of Smith’s action.

The absence of Ms Bad Behavior forced Prat to slightly alter his tactics on Vasilika, who runs as a stalker or closer.

“I thought Mike was the horse to follow,” Prat said. “I went to plan B.”

Vasilika followed Smoovie and Cordiality in the first half of the race. Meal Ticket closed from fourth and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of 41-1 Space Talk, who was followed by Raven’s Lady, Cordiality and Smoovie.

Vasilika was timed in 1:33.53 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. A 5-year-old mare by Skipshot, Vasilika has won six graded stakes, all since Labor Day weekend. Since being claimed, she has compiled win streaks of eight and now three races. Vasilika was fourth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar last December.

This year, Vasilika began the season with a win in the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes on Jan. 21 and the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes on Feb. 23. Prat has been aboard for all of her wins, and has found a brilliant companion in the outstanding mare.

“No matter what, she covers me when I do something wrong,” Prat said.