Sweet Seraphine nips the win by a nose. (Coglianese/NYRA)
By Mary Eddy
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stonehaven Steading’s Kentucky homebred Sweet Seraphine made her stakes debut a winning one when overcoming a stumble at the start to rally to victory in Sunday’s $125,000 Wilton, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies who have not won a stakes other than state-bred, at Belmont at the Big A.
“It was an unreal finish, especially after she stumbled out of the gate,” said Leah O’Meara of Stonehaven Steading. “She was very well ridden and came up and finished so strong. I’m blown away. We’re really happy with her today. She’s a good filly.”
Trained by Cherie DeVaux and expertly piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., the daughter of Quality Road was far off a three-way pace battle early but found more with every stride down the lane to land the head score over the game pace-presser Dry Powder. Sweet Seraphine doubled up on wins after a second-out graduation by a nose on May 24 at Churchill Downs.
“Last time out was incredible,” O’Meara said of the maiden win versus elders that came off a more than nine-month respite. “She was able to come back from a really long lay up and do a mile which is the distance she needs. She needs distance in general, and she definitely needed it today. She came off her last race clearly super strong and I can’t imagine what she’ll be able to do in a clean race [no stumble] next time out.”
Sweet Seraphine stumbled from the gate and soon found herself tracking well behind the top trio of Mazayaat, Dry Powder and Pink Ruby as they battled for command before Mazayaat took charge exiting the chute and through the opening quarter-mile in 22.69 seconds over the fast main track.
“It’s always concerning when they do that [stumble from the gate], but Irad just let her get her footing and get position,” DeVaux said. “They set a fast pace up front which helped. She really responded well once he got her out in the clear and had those strong fractions to close into.”
Sweet Seraphine was still 7 1/2 lengths back in fourth as the top three came to even terms through the half-mile in 44.95, with Dry Powder sticking her head in front between rivals and Ortiz, Jr. giving his cue as they exited the turn. A stubborn Mazayaat battled on the inside as Pink Ruby spun her wheels to the outside, but Dry Powder dispatched her two rivals and was all alone up front after seven furlongs in 1:22.62.
Jose Lezcano implored Dry Powder for more, and the filly responded, but Sweet Seraphine was fully-extended down the center of the course and was gaining with every stride. Ortiz, Jr. switched to a right-handed crop in the final yards and looked over at Dry Powder as he and Sweet Seraphine passed their foe at the wire and stopped the clock in 1:35.94.
Cat Chat, who trailed far behind in last-of-5 in the early stages, came running late as well to secure show honors over Pink Ruby, with Mazayaat completing the order of finish. Liam in the Dust, who is entered in an optional claiming allowance on Thursday at Churchill Downs, was scratched.
Ortiz, Jr., aboard for the first time in the afternoon, said he was further back than he had anticipated.
“I didn’t want to be too far from the pace because it is hard to close on this track today,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “The track is playing good for the speed. But after that [the stumble], I just went to ‘Plan B’, ride her, let her be wherever she wants, and I will make a run from there. She got the job done. I guess we got lucky to get there on time.”
From the winner circle with @acacia_clement and @iradortiz after his win in the Wilton Stakes aboard Sweet Seraphine! pic.twitter.com/eqjCWOjQLW
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) June 22, 2025
DeVaux added she expects Sweet Seraphine will see more distance in her next start.
“She’s bred to go two turns, so it was always in our plans to see her go two turns,” DeVaux said. “We’ll get her back and see how she comes out of this and then we’ll come up with a plan.”
Sweet Seraphine was bought back for $900,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the winning Bernardini mare Venetian Sonata, who also produced graded stakes-winner Moonlight d’Oro and graded stakes-placed Olive Branch. She banked $68,750 in victory while returning $4.40 on a $2 win ticket as the 6-5 post-time favorite.
Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race program. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
