A Girl's Gotta Do powers away from R. C. Anderson field.
$4,482 Manitoba-bred yearling powers away from field for Last Call Stable
by George
Last Call Stable’s A Girl’s Gotta Do powered away in the stretch to win the $50,000 R.C. Anderson Stakes by 9 ¾-lengths on Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs, and it was never going to be close.
Third choice in the wagering at 4-1, A Girl’s Gotta Do looked more like an even-money cinch in the richest local race for Manitoba-bred 3-year-old fillies. She forced the pace early outside Vice Is Nice through a solid quarter in 23.80, had a ½-length lead after a half mile in 49.60, opened up into the final turn, got the six furlongs in 1:16 and had lots left in the stretch to run away from second choice Arstar and favourite Key To Glory.
Winner's Circle here we come!
Both Arstar and Key to Glory were perfectly placed into the stretch but they were no match for the winner when the running started. Arstar held off Key to Glory by a ½-length for the place and it was a further 11 ¾-lengths back to Sippin Whiskey in fourth. Early pacesetter Vice Is Nice faded to fifth and last.
The final time for the mile over the fast track was 1:43.40. Ridden by Adolfo Morales and trained by Shelley Brown, A Girl’s Gotta Do returned $10.20 to win. Bred by Sherisse Ziprick, the daughter of Battle Cat-Farrmost by Waquoit improved her lifetime record to 2-2-1 from 12 starts for earnings of $56,895. Not bad for a $4,482 Manitoba Yearling Sale purchase. And there was certainly an overflowing crowd of very happy people in the Winner’s Circle.
It was a good night for trainer Shelley Brown, who also won the last race of the evening with recent claim Cottonwood to top a 20-cent Superfecta that paid a whopping $4,387. In hindsight, Cottonwood was a huge overlay at $14.40.
Last Call's Bob Stremech was happy with trainer Shelley Brown.
He’d shown some run in his Maiden Special Weight debut despite being steadied and racing greenly and was claimed by Brown when dropped in for $5,000 for his next start, an oddly nondescript effort going a mile. Back in for $5,000 going six furlongs he was too good for his rivals.
Brown gained more ground on leading trainer Ardell Sayler with her two wins to Sayler’s one on Saturday. The score is now 26-22 in favour of Sayler, but last year’s leading trainer is not going to give Sayler a breather. And Brown continues to win with horses the public overlooks. That’s the sign of a good trainer, one who consistently gets more out of their horses than expected. No matter where trainers like that are in the standings, you have to use their horses on your tickets.
The regular 15% Pick-4 pools have been steadily getting bigger since the large carryover last week and Saturday night’s pool came in at $7,599, resulting in a $2 Pick-4 payout of $558.
Happy crowd In the Winner's Circle!
Paul Nolan continues to lead the jockey standings 37-32 over Jennifer Reid and Adolfo Morales. And if you’re thinking it’s only because he rides the best horses, watch the replay of his win on Kola Kat in the sixth race on Friday, July 12, from late turn home. He’s on the #2 horse in white. Yes, Kola Kat was the favourite, but from last to first…
Nolan is riding with confidence.