Late Night Pow Wow Extends Streak to Seven in Willa On the Move
Late Night Pow Wow Extends Streak to Seven in Willa On the Move
Victory Rally Rides Rail to First Stakes Win in $75,000 Geisha
LAUREL, MD – Breeze Easy LLC’s Late Night Pow Wow, racing for the first time outside her native West Virginia, swept to the lead on the far outside and outran fellow graded-stakes winner Ms Locust Point to the wire to capture the $100,000 Willa On the Move on a rainy Saturday at Laurel Park.
The seventh running of the Willa On the Move for fillies and mares 3 and up was joined on the nine-race program by the 46th renewal of the $75,000 Geisha for Maryland-bred/sired females 3 and older, won by Victory Rally in her stakes debut.
With regular rider Fredy Peltroche aboard for trainer Javier Contreras, Late Night Pow Wow ($9.60) went six furlongs in 1:10.53 over a main track rated good for her seventh consecutive victory and ninth in 10 career starts. It was five lengths back to Barbara Fritchie (G2) winner Ms Locust Point, making her first start since June 30, in second, a neck ahead of Moonlit Song.
They were followed under the line by multiple stakes winners Shimmering Aspen and Liz’s Cable Girl, who had a four-race win streak snapped, Everlasting Secret and Discreet Deceit. Scratched were She’s Achance Too, Zipper’s Hero, Bath And Tennis and multiple stakes winner Crabcakes, who trainer Bernie Houghton said would come back in the $75,000 Politely Dec. 29 at Laurel.
“What a race, what a race. What a filly,” Contreras said. “We knew we had a shot. She’s the real deal.”
Late Night Pow Wow had raced exclusively at her home base of Charles Town prior to Saturday, entering the Willa On the Move off three straight stakes wins highlighted by the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Sept. 22. She had a sharp half-mile work in 47 seconds over Laurel’s main track Tuesday.
“We brought her up here [because] sometimes when you run from there they get a little tired,” Contreras said. “We wanted her to get a good work in here and get used to the track, and it worked.”
Peltroche, aboard for all of Late Night Pow Wow’s races, settled the daughter of Fiber Sonde in fourth after Ms Locust Point emerged from a four-horse scramble with the lead and went the opening quarter-mile in a swift 22.02 seconds pressed by Liz’s Cable Girl. Ms Locust Point was still in front after a half in 47.02 but Peltroche had tipped outside to launch their bid and they skipped through the stretch to take command.
“This filly, she likes this track,” Peltroche said. “She’s a big filly, and that’s why we worked here this week. She really likes this track.”
Out of the Indian Charlie mare Holy Pow Wow, Late Night Pow Wow’s sire was an unraced son of Unbridled’s Song who was a half-brother to champion sprinter Speightstown and multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Irap. The victory pushed her career bankroll to $409,400.
Late Night Pow Wow had run each of her first nine races with Contreras as owner and trainer, making the Willa On the Move her first start for Breeze Easy. Her only loss came when second in the Its Binn Too Long Stakes April 21.
“Right now we’re going to take a little time and talk to the new connections and see what they’d like to do with her,” Contreras said, “but, she deserves a little break right now.”
Victory Rally Rides Rail to First Stakes Win in $75,000 Geisha
Richard Golden’s Victory Rally, facing stakes competition for the first time, rode the rail under jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. to splash home a gutsy neck winner over Another Broad in the $75,000 Geisha.
It was the second straight win for Michael Matz-trained Victory Rally ($13.80), both under Vargas, and fourth in nine tries at Laurel. The winning time was 1:38.08 for one mile over a sloppy main track.
Sent off at 5-1, Victory Rally had a similar trip to her previous effort Nov. 3 where she saved ground early before opening up for a 6 ¼-length allowance romp. She tracked in fourth as 35-1 long shot Wowwhatabrat sailed through fractions of 23.95 and 47.02 seconds, having plenty of room to scoot up the rail as the pacesetter retreated straightening for home and hold off Another Broad through the stretch.
It was 4 ¼ lengths back to late-running defending champion and narrow 3-1 favorite My Magician in third, who was 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Anna’s Bandit. Wowwhatabrat, Hailey’s Flip, Enchanted Ghost and Riley’s Choice completed the order of finish.
“She was pretty comfortable by the backstretch so I didn’t panic or anything,” Vargas said. “I just sat in the pocket like I did last time, and she just was full of run. When I asked her she was there for me, and that was it.”
Notes: There will be a jackpot carryover of $4,363.96 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 for Sunday’s nine-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Tickets with five of six winners Saturday returned $98.28. Sunday’s opener will offer a $1 Super Hi-5 carryover of $525.89.
