HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Virginia Joy posted her first U.S. stakes win Saturday in the $150,000 The Very One (G3) at Gulfstream Park when the 5-year-old German-bred mare rallied in the stretch for a one-length victory over Family Way.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for owner Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown, Virginia Joy settled comfortably in mid-pack in the 1 3/8-mile turf stakes before unleashing a stretch charge as the 4/5 favorite to overtake Family Way in the final yards.
Harajuku was third, a half-length behind Family Way.
Virginia Joy spent the early part of her career racing in Europe before moving to the U.S. She was unsuccessful in a pair of stakes tries in New York last summer. Saturday’s stakes win followed a seven-month layoff.
Winning trainer Chad Brown (Virginia Joy): “We’re really pleased with her. I want to thank Mr. Brant for being so patient with her and keeping her in training. We’ve been training her up at Payson Park. We turned her out for a while. She had trouble keeping weight last year so we finally pulled the plug and turned her out and she came back a different horse. I also want to add I think the firmer ground helped her. I caught soft ground three times in a row with her and I could just tell training her that she wanted it firm. I never could find it, and you’re going to find it at Gulfstream. I think she can run as short as a mile and a quarter or she can run a mile and a half. I think the key is keeping her on some firm ground and keeping her in good health like she is now.”
Winning jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. (Virginia Joy): “I got a good trip. Everything went perfect. She came from a long way out. I just had to wait and save some ground and wait as long as I can. She did everything right.”
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Virginia Joy (Gulfstream Park Photo)
