Jockey Jose Ortiz pilots Nanda Dea (#5) to a half-length victory over Join The Dance in the 57th running of the $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial. (Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir)
First North American Stake in Al Stall Memorial
Fair Grounds Release
NEW ORLEANS, La. – After finding herself in tight quarters down the stretch, Happy Friday’s Nanda Dea (ARG) came off heels and rallied determinedly to make the $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots her first North American stakes victory.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz for trainer Ignacio Correas IV, Nanda Dea completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.64 over a firm turf course.
Nanda Dea relaxed comfortably in third early, as Join the Dance took the lead and set opening fractions of :24.18 and :49.74 while being stalked to her outside by Way to Be Marie. Holding that formation deep into the race, at the eighth pole Ortiz guided Nanda Dea off heels to daylight where the mare found more to determinedly get up by 1/2 length over Join the Dance.
Way to Be Marie held third. Tufani closed late to finish fourth.
“She’s a multiple group 1 winner in Argentina,” Ortiz said. “We knew when she came over that she was very nice. Nacho (trainer Correas) has done an amazing job with her–he does an amazing job with South American horses. She worked out a great trip other than I had to wait and wait and wait and then check a little bit at the 3/16th pole. She responded after that very well. I hope I didn’t make Nacho very nervous.”
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Nanda Dea returned $4.60, $3.80, and $2.80. Join the Dance, under Luis Saez, paid $10.20 and $6.80, while Way to Be Marie, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $4.20 to show.
Along with an allowance win at Keeneland, Nanda Dea is now a perfect two-for-two since joining Correas in North America. A multiple group 1 winner in Argentina, the 6-year-old mare boasts a career record of 10-8-1-0 with $188,465 in earnings.
