Vasilika pointing for Buena Vista Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. – Vasilika is likely to start in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes on Feb. 23 after winning her fourth graded stakes in her last five starts in Monday’s Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes.
The $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes is run at a mile on turf for fillies and mares.
“That sounds like a logical next step,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.
Vasilika won the Megahertz Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths in her first start since a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on Dec. 2, a defeat that ended an eight-race winning streak.
Vasilika was claimed for $40,000 last February and has since won 9 of 11 starts and earned $669,529 for All Schlaich Stables, Gatto Racing, George Todaro, and Hollendorfer.
Monday’s win came at a poignant time for the ownership group. Dan Gatto died of an apparent heart attack last Saturday. His son Nick, who has actively been involved with the family’s Gatto Racing stable, called Hollendorfer in the minutes after the Megahertz.
“He called me and said thank you,” Hollendorfer said.
After Monday’s race, Hollendorfer paid tribute to Dan Gatto, who also had a share in such stakes winners as Thegirlinthatsong, Parranda, and Point Piper.
“It takes you by surprise,” Hollendorfer said. “You take things for granted that everyone will be here every day.”
