Special Wan bests Segesta by half a length in the $2 Million Resolute Racing Ladies Turf. (Coady Media)
By Kentucky Downs Media Team
FRANKLIN, Ky. –Team Valor International and Steven Rocco’s Special Wan (IRE), the 2-1 favorite, was angled five wide into the stretch by Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario and came flying late to win Saturday’s $2 million Resolute Racing Ladies Turf (G2) by a half-length over Segesta.
“Once a year I do what I call invoke the ‘God play,’ said Barry Irwin of Team Valor. “I appeal to the higher deity. I chose this race today. No. 2, it’s rare that you can actually have everything line up perfectly. This one lined up perfectly today. Usually, I get a little nervous. I’m cold as ice. This was our day. Thank you, Lord. That’s all I can say.”
Special Wan chased the pace set by In Our Time through the first half of the one-mile race, waiting mid-pack until the uphill climb toward the finish line. That’s when Rosario allowed her to barrel through traffic, eventually bearing down on Segesta and bumping her in late stretch before prevailing in a record time of 1:31.74. In Our Time held on for third after setting fractions of 21.74 and 44.24 for the first half-mile.
“I thought we were going to be a little more into the race, but she took her time today, and I just kind of had to ride her from there,” Rosario said. “She didn’t seem like last year when I won with her here. She tried hard all the time. She’s an honest filly.”
Despite the narrow loss, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. said Segesta delivered a solid performance.
“I got a beautiful trip,” he said. “I can’t complain. Just got beat. Just got caught on the wire. She ran good. I saved ground and got through on the inside and cleared. Was a little unlucky. We got caught.”
Special Wan ran for $1 million and not $2 million because she is an Irish-bred and not a Kentucky-bred. However, trainer Brendan Walsh wasn’t too disappointed.
“It’s still a massive purse,” he said. “You don’t get to run for that kind of money too often, so it’s great.”
Walsh said they would most likely point to the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on October 4.
“She’s a nice filly. She’s done well since last year,” Walsh said. “She’s gone from strength to strength to hopefully there will be another nice race or two.”
Special Wan improved her record to 4-2-3 in 10 starts and has now earned $827,598. She returned $6.44, $4.14 and $3.32.
