Where's My Ring finds first win and Kentucky Oaks berth in Gazelle Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Where’s My Ring went from maiden to Grade 3 stakes winner and Kentucky Oaks contender Saturday as she rolled to a 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct.

Taking advantage of her inside post draw and a better break from the gate than she has previously shown, Where’s My Ring saved ground under Jose Lezcano while racing close to a modest pace, tipped out three-wide in the stretch and drew away in the final furlong to record her first career victory.

Regulatory Risk, a pace-prompter, finished second, 5 1/4 lengths in front of Gin Gin.

The win earned Where’s My Ring 100 qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks, securing her spot in the starting gate for that classic race for 3-year-old fillies.

Where’s My Ring is based in Southern California with trainer Val Brinkerhoff. She was entered in last Saturday’s Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park, but scratched. She could have run in Saturday’s Santa Anita Oaks and faced Kinza, an undefeated filly that has already beaten Where’s My Ring twice. The Santa Anita Oaks and Fantasy were at 1 1/16 miles whereas the Gazelle was 1 1/8 miles.

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Brinkerhoff said if the Santa Anita Oaks “was a mile and an eighth I would have stayed there because I think I could beat [Kinza] at a mile and an eighth. It wasn’t; we opted to come here and it worked out well for us.”

Though Where’s My Ring broke well, she was outfooted for the lead by Carmelina. Under Mychel Sanchez, Carmelina set fractions of 23.57 seconds for the quarter, 48.05 for a half-mile and 1:12.80 for six furlongs being stalked by Regulatory Risk.

Lezcano kept Where’s My Ring within 1 1/2 lengths while racing on the rail.

Approaching the five-sixteenths pole, Lezcano got off the rail, Where’s My Ring joined the leaders in upper stretch and drew clear in the final furlong. Where’s My Ring, a daughter of Twirling Candy owned by Michael McMillan, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.33 and returned $7.10 as the lukewarm favorite.

“She broke pretty good, but she took two or three jumps to get into full stride,” Lezcano said. “After that, I had somebody in front of me, but she did everything right.”

Lezcano said he was able to keep Where’s My Ring from getting dirt in her face and when he asked her “she gave me everything she’s got,” he said.

Brinkerhoff said he was extremely confident when he saw how close Where’s My Ring was positioned coming to the top of the stretch.

“When she was sitting third, that close, at the five-sixteenths pole, I was headed for the winner’s circle,” Brinkerhoff said.

Now, Brinkerhoff and Where’s My Ring (90 Beyer Speed Figure) are headed to Kentucky. Brinkerhoff said he would discuss with McMillan whether to ship back to Brinkerhoff’s Santa Anita stable first or head to Kentucky straight from New York.

Regulatory Risk earned 50 points for her runner-up finish and has 55 Oaks qualifying points. However, jockey Dylan Davis said Regulatory Risk ran just even in the final furlong and might be better suited to a mile.

“She might give you a better kick,” Davis said.

Gin Gin earned 25 qualifying points toward the Oaks and now has 66 points should her connections elect to run. In February, Gin Gin won the Busanda Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.

Following Gin Gin in the order of finish were Whocouldaskformo, Barbratina, Carmelina, Princess Vino and Munny Grab. Six Pack Senorita scratched.

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