Castellano all smiles after a graded stake victory on his birthday, NYRA Photo
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Keith McCalmont
Hall of Famer Javier Castellano celebrated his birthday in style, piloting Americathegreat to a stalking score in Friday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Sands Point, a nine-furlong inner turf route for sophomore fillies, at Belmont Park.
Castellano, a four-time Eclipse Award-winner as Outstanding Jockey [2013-16], said he felt as young as ever in the saddle aboard the chestnut daughter of fellow Hall of Famer Curlin.
“I’m very happy. I’m 49, I feel like an 18-year-old,” said Castellano, with a laugh. “I’m grateful to win this race…blessed.”
Castellano demonstrated his tactical nous, sitting off the early speed of 54-1 longshot Cosmic Candy Girl before making a four-wide move to take control at the top of the stretch and secure a first career stakes win for the Hall of Famer Mark Casse-trained Americathegreat.
“First time going a mile and an eighth. I had to take that into consideration to not get tired at the end and just take my time,” Castellano said. “I break good out of the gate, got a good position and gave her a little breather on the backside. I like the way she fought at the top of the stretch to get to the finish line. I’m so proud of her.”
Cosmic Candy Girl, with Chris Elliott up, showed the way through splits of 23.96 seconds, 48.66 and 1:13.74 over the firm turf with Silly Season tracking from second position in front of Americathegreat and Bless Her.
The pacesetter was swarmed late in the final turn as the Manny Franco-piloted Bless Her and Americathegreat loomed large. Franco deftly maneuvered Bless Her between the stubborn Silly Season and outside rallying Americathegreat at the furlong marker, but Castellano would not be denied on his special day with his filly finding a little bit extra to score by a half-length in a final time of 1:48.18.
Bless Her completed the exacta by 1 1/2-lengths over Bohemian, who was a neck better than Silly Season. Vauntingly, Cosmic Candy Girl, Crossover Capital, Queen of Hawaii and Miss Fulton Gal rounded out the order of finish. Ivy Girl as well as also-eligibles Tulip, Paula’s Choice [a starter allowance winner here October 18] and That’s How We Love, who finished fifth in today’s Grade 2 Valley View at Keeneland, were scratched.
Franco said the Graham Motion-trained Bless Her was game in defeat.
“I got the trip I wanted. I wanted to be in the second flight of the race, following the speed,” Franco said. “She responded good, I got the hole, I was there with the winner. They were just better today.”
Americathegreat, campaigned by Gary Barber and D. J. Stable, made two previous Listed stakes starts on dirt last year at Churchill Downs, landing fourth in both the Debutante and Rags to Riches. She made her first three outings this season in optional-claiming tilts at Woodbine, entering from a rallying score versus elders in a one-mile test over firm turf.
Shane Tripp, Casse’s New York-based assistant, credited Castellano with a sharp ride.
“Javier had a plan, and he stuck to it,” Tripp said. “He didn’t think there was a lot of speed in there, but she didn’t really get away from there [the gate] like he thought she was going to.
“She came from Woodbine and won a nice allowance race up there, the team up there did a great job,” Tripp added. “We’ve had her here for a little bit, so we are real proud of her. I loved the way she dug in the last eighth of a mile.”
Americathegreat, out of the Grade 3-winning A.P. Indy mare America, is a full-sister to dual graded stakes-winner First Captain. She was purchased for $1.2 million at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Bred in Kentucky by Bobby Flay Thoroughbreds, Americathegreat banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 9-3-4-0. She returned $13.74 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont Park for the Empire Showcase Day card, which offers 10 stakes exclusively for horses foaled in New York State valued at a combined $2.1 million in purses. First post on the 11-race program is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.
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America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/.
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