OZONE PARK, N.Y.— A sensational victory on debut gave trainer John Terranova enough confidence to try Gatsas Stables, R.A. Hill Stable and Hidden Brook Farm’s New York-bred You’re My Girl in the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette on October 2 going a one-turn mile at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Bred by James G. Doyle, You’re My Girl was an easy 14 1/2-length winner of a six-furlong maiden special weight on September 2 at Saratoga Race Course, where she registered a 75 Beyer Speed Figure under a hand ride from jockey Joel Rosario.
“Looking at how well and how easily she did it, we for sure considered this race,” Terranova said. “We were ultra-impressed with her first start. She came out of it great and is training on real strong for this. There’s a lot of questions to answer: stretching out, first time against winners, but they’re all still young. She looks very talented, so we’re hoping for the best.”
Since her impressive career debut, You’re My Girl has worked twice over the Belmont main track, most recently working five furlongs in 1:00.46 on Sunday. Terranova said he didn’t give much thought into trying state-bred stakes company in last Friday’s Joseph A. Gimma, which was won by Gambling Girl.
“We did nominate her, but we weren’t seriously considering it,” Terranova said. “At first, you just wait and see how they train on, but we liked her going into her first race. I never get too over-excited about a 2-year-old first out. I knew she could run, we all knew that. But you never know what’s going to happen on their first trip out there. Just like this time, it’s her first time against winners, new distance, new track, we have to get on a van to go run, but everything has been strong for her.”
You’re My Girl will have her work cut out for her in Sunday’s engagement, where she will be tasked with facing Grade 1 Spinaway winner Leave No Trace, as well as open-length maiden winners Chocolate Gelato and The Great Maybe.
“We’re confident that she’ll handle herself well,” Terranova said. “We had a good feel for her before she ran first out so we knew we had a filly with some talent. You just don’t know where you’re going to land with them – state-breds or is she going to exceed her expectations? There’s still a long way to go.”
You’re My Girl will break from the outside post in the seven-horse field under Rosario, who seeks his third Frizette victory.
“She’s been very handy and a very smart filly. We love the post drawn outside like that. Joel got on with her fantastically in her first race, so we’ll leave it in his hands,” Terranova said.
Terranova reported that five-time stakes-winning New York-bred Bank Sting will return to the work tab in the near future with sights set on the 6 1/2-furlong $150,000 Iroquois on Empire Showcase Day, October 30. The 5-year-old Central Banker mare has not raced since capturing the Dancin Renee on June 26 at Belmont Park.
“She’ll be back working in a few days when the weather passes through. She’s doing great and we’re on target for Showcase Day,” Terranova said.
Owned by breeders Joseph and Anne McMahon in partnership with Hidden Brook Farm, Bank Sting is out of the Precise End mare Bee in a Bonnet and has banked $582,050 through a 12-8-1-0 record.
Terranova added that the Grade 2 Raven Run on October 22 at Keeneland could be an option for Gatsas Stables’ graded stakes winner Midnight Stroll, as well as Steven Schoenfeld’s Union Lake, who recently finished third in the Grade 2 Prioress on September 2 at Saratoga.
Midnight Stroll, a Florida-bred sophomore daughter of Not This Time, was last seen finishing third to next out Grade 1 Cotillion winner Society in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks on August 26. She captured the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 2 two starts back in her lone graded stakes victory.
“She’s here and we’re figuring out where to go with her,” Terranova said. “She’s been breezing right along since the Charles Town Oaks. I think Society coming back and winning the Cotillion really complimented that race. We know she’s good, we’re just trying to figure out what spot to land in.”
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