“TDN Rising Star” Lady Ivanka (Tiz Wonderful) made good on her impressive debut with a stalk-and-pounce victory in the GI Spinaway S., securing her spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in the process. Tabbed a “Rising Star” after romping by eight lengths in her Aug. 9 unveiling over this strip, the $80,000 EASMAY buy prepped for this test with a best-of-55 half-mile breeze in :47 flat here Aug. 28. The 4-1 shot kept close tabs from third as previously undefeated GII Adirondack S. romper Pure Silver (Mission Impazible) and fellow “TDN Rising Star” Separationofpowers (Candy Ride {Arg}) dueled through early splits of :22.36 and :45.30. Launching a four-wide bid on the far turn, Lady Ivanka was floated out even further in mid-stretch as Pure Silver called it quits and Maya Malibu (Malibu Moon) snuck up the rail into contention. Separationofpowers faded a few strides later, leaving Lady Ivanka and Maya Malibu to settle it and the former surged clear in the final strides to score by 3/4 of a length.
“It was a tough test, but we got it done,” winning trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. “She ran a good race. The race set up the way we expected, I was a little concerned about the inside horse [Maya Malibu], but we got it done. I was not confident at all [turning for home] because I saw that [Maya Malibu] was coming on the inside, and Javier [Castellano] is one of the best riders in the country. They opened the rail for him, and I was concerned, but thank God we held on.”
As for whether Lady Ivanka would go on to the Breeders' Cup, Rodriguez said, “I don't know, I have to talk to the owners, and then make a plan and see what we have to do but it's very good to be in this position. We're just going to relax and enjoy this, and I'll talk to the owners.”
Lady Ivanka's victory marked part owner Michael Dubb's third Spinaway win, having previously won with Grace Hall (Empire Maker) in 2011 and with another Rodriguez-trained daughter of Tiz Wonderful, Condo Commando, in 2014. The 2014 Spinaway was also the last call of legendary announcer Tom Durkin (click here to watch). Click here for Christie DeBernardis's TDN Weekend profile on Dubb and here for Brian DiDonato's feature on bloodstock agent Kim Valerio, who picked out both Lady Ivanka and Condo Commando.
Pedigree Notes:
Lady Ivanka is the eighth graded stakes winner for her sire Tiz Wonderful, a fellow “TDN Rising Star” who was sold to Korea in 2014. He was represented by another graded winner earlier in this Saratoga meet when Hunter O'Riley captured the GII Bowling Green S. Lady Ivanka was bred in Oklahoma, a state which has also produced the likes of Hall of Famer Lady's Secret; MGISW turf miler Kip Deville, who captured the 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Mile; and GI Madison S. heroine Shotgun Gulch.
The winner's dam Lady Leftennant is a half-sister to MSW & GISP Jet West (Western Fame) and Jestin Excess (In Excess {Ire}); MSW & GSP Jetinto Houston (Houston); and MSW Triumphant Flight (Chullo {Arg}). The 13-year-old mare failed to get in foal to Algorithms after producing Lady Ivanka, but produced a Tapiture colt Feb. 5 of this year and was bred back to that sire.
Saturday, Saratoga
SPINAWAY S.-GI, $343,000, SAR, 9-2, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:24.97, ft.
1–#@&LADY IVANKA, 118, f, 2, by Tiz Wonderful
1st Dam: Lady Leftennant, by Officer
2nd Dam: Jetinwith Kennedy, by Kennedy Road
3rd Dam: Blue Jet Set, by Blue Eyed Davy
($21,000 RNA Wlg '15 KEENOV; $11,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP
Video; $80,000 2yo '17 EASMAY). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Michael
Dubb, Bethlehem Stables LLC, Michael Imperio & Susan
Montanye; B-Scott Pierce (OK); T-Rudy R. Rodriguez; J-Irad
Ortiz, Jr. $210,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $259,800.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”legacy-bloodstock-lady-ivanka-double”][bullet ad=”sbmtrainingandsales-brokenandtrained”][bullet ad=”valerio-selected-by”]2–Maya Malibu, 118, f, 2, by Malibu Moon
1st Dam: Island Sand, by Tabasco Cat
2nd Dam: Sue's Last Dance, by Forty Niner
3rd Dam: Savethelastdance, by Nureyev
O-My Meadowview Farm LLC; B-My Meadowview LLC (KY);
T-H. Graham Motion. $70,000.[bullet ad=”lanes-end-foaled-and-raised”]3–Separationofpowers, 118, f, 2, by Candy Ride (Arg)&log=">Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Shehadmefromhello, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Lasting Code, by Lost Code
3rd Dam: Cajun Nite Lady, by Ogygian
($190,000 Wlg '15 KEENOV). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Klaravich
Stables, Inc.; B-Northwest Farms LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.
$35,000.[bullet ad=”de-meric-de-meric-stables-purchase-and-graduate”][bullet ad=”greenfield-soldby”][bullet ad=”bluewater-hip125-ftturf2017″]Margins: 3/4, 3 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 5.20, 12.50, 0.60.
Also Ran: Pure Silver, Obvious Two.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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