R Disaster takes them all the way in the Derby City Distaff, Courtney Snow/Past The Wire
Churchill Downs Press
LOUISVILLE, KY – Averill Racing and ATM Racing’s R Disaster took the lead out of the gate and then fended off a stretch challenge by Ways and Means by 2 ¼ lengths to win the 40th running of the $1 million Derby City Distaff (GI) presented by Ford for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, R Disaster completed the seven furlongs over a fast main track in 1:20.94.
R Disaster quickly opened a daylight advantage through an opening quarter-mile in :22.77 with favored Splendora tracking in second. On the far turn, Ways and Means began to close in and narrowed the gap in the upper stretch only to have R Disaster kick away again.
R Disaster is a 5-year-old Florida-bred daughter of Awesome Slew out of the Gottcha Gold mare Making Havoc. In winning her third graded stakes, R Disaster improved her record to 16-9-6-1 and increased her earnings to $1,327,015 with Saturday’s $558,000 check.
R Disaster returned $16.26, $5 and $3.96. Ways and Means, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $3.60 and $2.98 with Usha getting third another 1 ¾ lengths back under Juan Hernandez and paying $3.98 to show.
Favored Splendora was fourth another 6 ½ lengths back followed by Autumn Evening.
DERBY CITY DISTAFF QUOTES
Tyler Gaffalione (Jockey, R Disaster, winner) – “This filly came here ready to run today. As soon as the gate popped open, she broke alertly, I was able to put my hands down and let her find her stride. She was traveling so easy that I knew (down the stretch), she was going to be able to find another gear. The rest of horses weren’t much of a threat.”
Saffie Joseph Jr. (Trainer, R Disaster, winner) – “She ran her race last time in the Madison (GI). The pace was extremely fast last time – faster than we would have liked. We didn’t originally intend to come back in this race, but she bounced out of her last work very well. So, we decided to enter and see what happens. We knew there were some Grade I-caliber fillies in this race but she was doing so well. Tyler gave her the perfect ride today.”
Jose Ortiz (Jockey, Ways and Means, second) – “It was a good race for my horse. She ran well. We just got outrun.”
