Galaxina to target NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy
ELMONT, N.Y. – Owner, trainer and co-breeder Jim Bond’s Giacosa was a determined winner off a six-month layoff in Monday’s $125,000 Mount Vernon travelling 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old daughter of Tizway will now look for a repeat win in the Yaddo Handicap on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course.
“We’ll do right by her and point her to the Yaddo and see what sets up in between,” said Kevin Bond, Jim Bond’s son and assistant. “She’s been ready for a while. We took our time with her and she rewarded us. It was really exciting yesterday.”
Giacosa got her nose down just in time to nab the victory over a game Classic Lady after stalking the pace in fourth and improving position throughout under Luis Saez, who won 2-of-5 stakes on Monday’s Big Apple Showcase card. She stopped the clock in a final time of 1:34.05.
The dark bay mare entered the Mount Vernon from a narrow defeat in the Forever Together in November at Aqueduct where she was bested a neck by graded stakes placed Flower Point. Giacosa has displayed an affinity for Saratoga, posting a 3-for-4 record at the Spa that includes her Yaddo score and a pair of allowance victories.
Bond said that Giacosa’s Mount Vernon win was redemption after a disappointing performance in the 2021 Ticonderoga in her last go around the Belmont lawn.
“She loves Saratoga and she’s run pretty well at Belmont. Everyone was a little perplexed with her run in the Ticonderoga,” said Bond. “It was a different kind of going that day. It’s tough to explain, but the grass was a little different that day. I watched her bobble a couple times. I’m not sure if there was a thicker cut to it or if it was softer, but I think she likes a firmer going.”
The Bond stable celebrated another stakes win earlier in the year when Ascendant Farms’ promising sophomore Galaxina upset the 6 1/2-furlong NYSSS Park Avenue at odds of 24-1. The New York-bred daughter of Giant Surprise finished second on debut to multiple stakes-placed Stone Creator and broke her maiden at second asking en route to her Park Avenue victory.
Bond said Galaxina will make her next start in the seven-furlong NYSSS Cupecoy’s Joy on June 19 over the Belmont Widener turf.
“She’s doing great. We’re actually pointing her for the Stallion Series on the 19th. She’s got some pedigree on the mare’s side that suggests the turf,” Bond said. “We actually galloped her over it and our main rider said that she likes the grass more than the dirt in his opinion. So, we’ll take a chance over the grass with her.
“We’ve got nothing to lose and can test the waters a bit,” Bond added. “She’s just getting better and better. She’s a big filly, so we’ve been taking our time with her and making sure the whole years pans out right. I’m excited to see her on the grass and how she does.”
Out of the Lawyer Ron mare Strange Magic, Galaxina hails from the family of 2008 Eclipse Award Champion Grass Mare Forever Together, her second dam a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1-winning mare.
NYRA Press Office
Photo: Giacosa gets a nose on Classic Lady in the Mount Vernon. (NYRA/Coglianese)
