Tequilaandtherapy by a nose in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Del Mar Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.— Tequilaandtherapy, an 11-1 longshot piloted by Edwin Maldonado, scored by a nose over the hard-charging Grateful My Love in the $1750,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Friday at Del Mar.
Tequilaandtherapy, a daughter of Mrazek owned by Here We Go Brothers and conditioned by Doug O’Neill, went to the lead shortly after entering the stretch and was forced to go all out to triumph in 1:24.91 for the seven furlongs over the main track.
Three quarters of a length back in third place was In the Air Tonight in the line-up of nine fillies.
The winner registered her second triumph in six outings and it was worth a first prize of $99,750, pushing her bankroll to $164,067. She returned $24 to win to her backers in the crowd on a picture-perfect day at the seaside oval.
EDWIN MALDONADO (TEQUILAANDTHERAPY, winner)— “She broke great. She was doing everything so nice and easy so I just sat on her. The track is a little heavy didn’t want her to gas out early. The last time, she came off the pace, so I waited and I was able to split the leaders. I could feel that horse coming on the outside nearing the wire. I didn’t know if I won or not.”
LEANDRO MORA (Assistant trainer to Doug O’Neill, TEQUILAANDTHERAPY, winner) — “We thought the other horse (#4 Pavel Is Appealing) was better than Tequilaandtherapy, but she kind of missed the break a little bit. So then we went from Plan A to Plan B. And I think it’s starting to work out. I was at a different angle (to see the tight finish) and I thought the 7 (Grateful My Love) got us at the wire. But once I saw the picture come up, I was the happiest man on earth.”
FRACTIONS: :22.56 :45.72 1:11.68 1:24.91
The stakes win was the first at the meet for rider Edwin Maldonado and his first in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies. He now has 13 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first at the meet for trainer Doug O’Neill and his first in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies. He now has 49 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owners – Here We Go Brothers – is headed by Shane O’Neill of Monrovia, CA.
