Gin Gin victorious in the Busanda (NYRA/Coglianese)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Calumet Farm’s Kentucky homebred Gin Gin, a daughter of their stakes-winning stallion Hightail, placed herself on the Kentucky Oaks trail with an off-the-pace score in Saturday’s $100,000 Busanda at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by two-time Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the bay filly was awarded a 73 Beyer Speed Figure for her one-length triumph over Princess Mayfair that was engineered by Trevor McCarthy.
For her victory in the nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies, Gin Gin earned the maximum allotment of 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers, respectively, towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May at Churchill Downs.
Dustin Dugas, Cox’s Belmont Park-based assistant, said Gin Gin emerged from the effort in good order Sunday.
“She came back good,” said Dugas. “I was really happy with the trip she had and Trevor gave her a great ride. In the first turn, he had her in a good spot and it was a masterful ride. When he did switch outside, it seemed she really ran on. She showed a little greenness in the stretch, but she gained a ton of experience. We always get those kind of rides from Trevor.”
Gin Gin emerged from the inner post in the five-horse field and tracked in third down the backstretch as Princess Mayfair set splits of 24.01 seconds, 47.93, and 1:12.19 over the muddy and sealed footing. Gin Gin had skimmed the rail throughout to the inside of post-time favorite Shimmering Allure before McCarthy opted to angle her around the pacesetter in the final turn.
Gin Gin loomed large on the outside as the pair drew clear from their rivals down the lane. Gin Gin continued to gain with every stride to pass a resolute Princess Mayfair near the sixteenth marker and complete the course in 1:53.31.
Dugas said Gin Gin’s stakes victory was rewarding after the filly overcame some nervousness thanks to a schooling trip to the Big A on Thursday.
“She’s been here for a little over a month and when she came in, she was a bit quirky and on edge,” said Dugas. “She shipped in from Churchill Downs and it’s quieter here and more open. She has really settled into herself, and the paddock schooling session really helped. She was a good girl in the paddock that day. It really worked out and the team all came together for her.”
Shortly after the Busanda, Cox noted Gin Gin would likely target the nine-furlong, Grade 3 Gazelle in early April at the Big A, which awards 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers.
“Why not,” said Dugas. “She’s proven she likes it at Belmont and over there at Aqueduct, and we really like her here.”
Gin Gin is out of the graded stakes-placed Hard Spun mare Before You Know It, who won the Karakorum Electra and finished second in the Grade 3 Top Flight Handicap in 2015, both at the Big A. Before You Know It’s half-sister, Instant Reflex, produced Hard to Justify, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November.
