Winter Memories unforgettable in Garden City
Winter Memories wins Garden City
In an electrifying finish, Winter Memories got clear in mid stretch and came on like a grey blur to win the Grade 1 Garden City Stakes at Belmont Park by a half-length over Theyskens’ Theory. More Than Real finished third.
Winter Memories, a 3-year-old daughter of El Prado, is trained by James Toner for Phillips Racing Partnership and was ridden by Javier Castellano.
Running time for the mile and one-eighth on the turf was 1:51.06.
Winter Memories returned $4.20, $2.60 and $2.20.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trapped behind a wall of horses in midstretch, Winter Memories unleashed a breathtaking last-to-first run on the far outside through the final yards to nab Theyskens’ Theory at the wire in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Garden City at Belmont Park.
Although forwardly placed behind More Than Real through an opening quarter-mile in 26.40 seconds over the firm turf, Winter Memories was soon shuffled back to last as the field of eight 3-year-old fillies traveled down the backside through a half in 51.60 and three-quarters in 1:16.12. Offered no opportunity to go inside or split rivals once straightened for home, jockey Javier Castellano had to wait until well inside the eighth pole to angle the lanky gray filly to the outside. Once clear, she took off like a rocket without being asked and inhaled the field in a matter of strides, hitting the wire a neck in front.
“I didn’t think she had a chance,” said a breathless Jimmy Toner, who trains the daughter of El Prado for the Phillips Racing Partnership. “I can’t believe the way she accelerated and exploded, in three strides. Phenomenal. Javier said to me, ‘I knew she was going to win.’ I said, ‘I’m glad you did!’”
Winter Memories’ time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.06 as she picked up her first Grade 1 victory.
“When everybody started to move, I had a chance to move her aside and let her find her kick,” said Castellano, racing aboard Winter Memories for the first time. “She has a wonderful kick, and I think that’s what my best advantage is. When I asked her, she took off. I’m very blessed to ride this filly; she’s one of the best fillies in the country.”
Sent off as the even-money favorite, Winter Memories returned $4.20 for a $2 win bet and earned $150,000 to increase her bankroll to $698,100. The Garden City was her fourth win in five starts this year, all in graded stakes, and avenged a stunning defeat last time out when fourth after a troubled trip in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga Race Course.
“When they turned for home, she just was not going to be able to go anywhere and then he finally did get the break to slide to the outside and that was it,” said Winter Memories’ owner and breeder John Phillips of the Phillips Racing Partnership. “It’s hard to believe that there was a little more gas left in the tank, but I think there was.”
Theyskens’ Theory, who traveled from Great Britain and who will remain in the United States, was 1 ½ lengths clear of More Than Real.
“She ran a big race, so we’re pleased,” said Brian Meehan, trainer of the runner-up. “It was all good. You have to draw positives like that. It looked like she was the winner 100 yards out, but the favorite got stopped on the straight and got a sweet run on the outside.”
Completing the order of finish were Hungry Island, Arch Support, Salary Drive, Pinch Pie, and Kathmanblu.
Next up for Winter Memories will be the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland Race Course on October 15, said Toner, as she wraps up a 2011 campaign that includes victories in the Grade 3 Appalachian, the Grade 2 Sands Point, and the Grade 2 Lake George.
“We’re back on track, back in the game,” he said.
GARDEN CITY (G1) QUOTES
Jimmy Toner, winning trainer of Winter Memories (No. 4): “When they turned into the lane it was the same scenario. She was blocked all over again. She had no place to go. I knew there was no chance to get inside or split horses; they were all bunched. I didn’t think she had a chance. I can’t believe the way she accelerated and exploded, in three strides. Phenomenal. Javier said to me, ‘I knew she was going to win.’ I said, ‘I’m glad you did!’”
“Javier never panicked. I told him, ‘I’d rather you wait as long as you can, eventually you’ll get out,’ and he did. I didn’t expect him to wait that long. I thought it was over. We’re back on track, back in the game.”
Javier Castellano, winning jockey aboard Winter Memories (No. 4): “I didn’t have a place to go. I had to sit still and wait for my best moment to go around. I tried to sneak into a couple of holes, but it didn’t work out that way. I had to wait a little bit for my opportunity. When everybody started to move, I had a chance to move her aside and let her find her kick. She has a wonderful kick, and I think that’s what my best advantage is. When I asked her, she took off. I’m very blessed to ride this filly; she’s one of the best fillies in the country.”
John Phillips, of Phillips Racing Partnership, winning owner of Winter Memories (No. 4): “At the eighth pole I thought there was no way – a horse could not pull that off. It’s not like they were blistering up front to start with, so for her to have that brilliant turn of foot…it was breathtaking. When she has horses on her outside and around her, she can get a little anxious, but I thought Castellano did a very good job, under the circumstances, of keeping her relaxed. I thought he did a good job on the backside. When they turned for home, she just was not going to be able to go anywhere and then he finally did get the break to slide to the outside and that was it. It’s hard to believe that there was a little more gas left in the tank, but I think there was.”
Brian Meehan, trainer of runner-up Theyskens’ Theory (No. 7): “She ran a big race, so we’re pleased. It was all good. You have to draw positives like that. It looked like she was the winner 100 yards out, but the favorite got stopped on the straight and got a sweet run on the outside. She’ll be staying her permanently, but whether we’ll be taking her to Kentucky [for the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, Grade 1, Keeneland, October 15] we’ll have to wait and see.”
Garrett Gomez, rider aboard runner-up Theyskens’ Theory (No. 7): “She’s a beautiful filly. She did everything right, she did everything I was asking her to do, she just ended up being second best.”
