Vasilika win streak at 8 after Goldikova victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - Vasilika extended her winning streak to eight races in Sunday’s Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at Santa Anita, reinforcing the former claimer’s status atop the female turf division in California.

Closing from seventh in a field of eight, Vasilika rallied between runners in the final furlong to win the one-mile race by 1 1/2 lengths over pacesetter Fahan Mura, a 6-1 chance. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Vasilika broke from the rail, but was outside of runners by the first turn, a key move in the mind of winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

“The only thing I was worried about was getting trapped on the rail,” Hollendorfer said. “He put her in a good spot.”

Sent off favored, Vasilika ($4.20) was timed in 1:33.49. The $201,035 Goldikova Stakes was her third consecutive graded stakes win, preceded by the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 1 and the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles here Sept. 29.

Vasilika will be considered for the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Dec. 2.

“She can run a mile or a mile and a quarter,” Prat said. “It doesn’t matter.”

Prat had Vasilika in sixth on the first turn, racing two wide and about five lengths behind Fahan Mura, who set an early pace of 22.74 seconds for the opening quarter-mile.

“When I got behind Cambodia and La Sardane, I thought I was in a good spot,” Prat said.

Vasilika raced off the rail down the backstretch and around the turn before emerging as a threat to Fahan Mura in the stretch.

“She’s just push-button,” Prat said.

Fahan Mura was third in the Mabee and later won the restricted Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf here Oct. 7 in a prep for the Goldikova.

“She did everything right, but she can’t beat this one,” trainer Vladimir Cerin said of Vasilika.

Madame Stripes, a 28-1 outsider, closed from seventh in the final quarter-mile to finish third. Lull was fourth, followed by Cambodia, I’m Betty G, Beau Recall, and La Sardane. All of the runners in the Goldikova are stakes winners this year.

Vasilika has won 13 of 27 starts and earned $740,595. A 4-year-old filly by Skipshot, Vasilika was claimed for $40,000 here on Feb. 11, a day she won a one-mile turf race. Vasilika was second by a neck in her first start for Hollendorfer, in an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option on March 4, and has not lost since.

The winning streak consists of three graded stakes, three optional claimers and two starter handicaps. Since being claimed, Vasilika has earned $591,528.