By Najja Thompson
NYRA Press
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Making her first start since finishing third in the Grade 3 Athenia at Belmont Park in October, Don Alberto Stable’s homebred Andina Del Sur captured her second stakes of the year, winning the $150,000 Forever Together for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward on Friday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Breaking from post 9 at odds of 3-1 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano aboard, she settled in sixth position as 19-1 longshot Too Charming led the field of eight though fractions of 23.93 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with the half in 48.84.
Swiftly moving four-wide from the rail at the quarter-pole, Andina Del Sur was all out moving past rivals earning the lead in the stretch with Theodora B charging from the back in close pursuit. Hustled to the wire, Andina Del Sur thwarted the late challenge to secure the victory be a neck over the inner turf course listed as good, completing the 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:43.03.
“She settled nice. There was a little more pace today,” said Castellano. “She’s the kind of horse that likes to come from behind. Everything set up beautifully. I liked the way she did it. She gave me a good run.
Returning $8.30 for a $2 win wager, the Giant’s Causeway filly boosted her personal earnings to $470,750 with the victory, improving her record to two wins from seven starts this year and earning her second stakes win after capturing the Violet on September 28 at Monmouth Park.
“I don’t know if she just got a little lost out there by herself, but she was able to hold off the late charge and she ran well today,” said winning trainer Tom Albertrani.
“I’ve never seen her open up that much. This is the first time I have seen her actually open up some daylight. We’ll probably ship her down south now, regroup with her and run her at Gulfstream [Park] and see if she stays another year in training or not.”
Michael Dickinson, who conditioned second-place runner Theodora B; was pleased with her effort as well despite thinking she may have preferred to go longer.
“We knew before the race that Theodora B is much better going nine furlongs on firm ground,” said Dickinson. “Today, we knew we were slightly disadvantaged going one mile and a sixteenth on good going. Considering the time of year, the turf tracks are in excellent condition. But we had rain on Wednesday, so the going was good. She much prefers when it’s firm. So, she ran a super race. We’re delighted.”
Completing the order of finish was was Sweet Bye and Bye, Go Noni Go, My Sistersledge, Too Charming, Lounge Act, and Shanghai Rain. Main track only entrants Matty’s Magnum, Another Broad, and Team Win were scratched from the race.
