Gratefully would not be denied, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Making her stakes debut for trainer Robert Falcone Jr., Gratefully gamely fended off a late challenge from European import Saratoga Special and improved to 5-for-5 in the Wishing Well Stakes sprinting six furlongs on turf Saturday at Santa Anita. The Wishing Well was for older fillies and mares who had not won a graded stakes since Aug. 1.
With Florent Geroux aboard for the first time, even-money favorite Gratefully broke best of all and sped through opening fractions of 21.86 and 44.62 seconds while being stalked by Jungle Peace (10-1) and second-choice Saratoga Special. While Gratefully continued to lead into the stretch Saratoga Special was just gearing up under Hector Berrios. Saratoga Special, who was making her U.S. debut for trainer Richard Baltas, carved into Gratefully’s lead in the final furlong but could never go by. Gratefully would prevail by a head over Saratoga Special with another two lengths back to 72-1 longshot Antifona in third.
“She broke like a shot,” Geroux said. “My instructions weren’t necessarily to go to the lead, just leave there running. I thought the nine (Jungle Peace) might go on with the four (Saratoga Special), but she was just quickest. From she was a total pro. She was nice and relaxed. When I asked her, she was all heart. She would not let the other filly go by.”
On a turf course listed as good, Gratefully won in a time of 1:07.83.
“She ran great,” said Falcone Jr., who is based in the east but is keeping a small string at Santa Anita this winter. “She has such a great heart and Flo gave her a great ride. When a horse comes to here, she doesn’t give in. She just keeps trying.”
Gratefully is a 4-year-old daughter of Laoban owned by Adelphi Racing Club, Shelly Hume and Russell Hume. A $150,000 auction buy as a yearling, Gratefully won her debut for trainer Ray Handal in a $50,000 maiden-claimer at Saratoga last August. Subsequently transferred to Falcone Jr., she then won a starter allowance and a first-level allowance, both at Aqueduct, to close out the 2025 campaign.
In her 4-year-old debut Jan. 8 at Santa Anita, Gratefully rolled to a 3 ¾-length victory in a second level allowance going six furlongs on turf.
“We’ll see how she come back and go from there, but we a ton of options, whether it will be here or elsewhere,” Falcone Jr. said.
Gratefully paid $4.00, $2.40 and $2.20. Saratoga Special returned $3.40 and $3.00. Antifona, ridden by Tiago Pereira for trainer Richard Mandella, paid $11.60.
Live racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a 10-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. PT
WISHING WELL STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
FLORENT GEROUX, GRATEFULLY, WINNER: “She broke like a shot. My instructions weren’t necessarily to go to the lead, just to leave there running. I thought the nine (Jungle Peace) might go on with the four (Saratoga Special), but she was just the quickest. From there she was a total pro. She was nice and relaxed. When I asked her, she was all heart. She would not let the other filly go by.”
TRAINER QUOTES
ROBERT FALCONE JR., GRATEFULLY, WINNER: ““She ran great. She has such a great heart and Flo gave her a great ride. When a horse comes to here, she doesn’t give in. She just keeps trying. We’ll see how she comes back and go from there. But we have a ton of options, whether it will be here or elsewhere.”
NOTES: The winning owners are Adelphi Racing Club, Shelly Hume and Russell Hume.
