Friday, August 08, 2008

RAFFIE’S TREASURE STANDS ALONE IN STATUE OF LIBERTY

In the paddock before the 6th running of Thursday’s $147,000 New York Stallion Series, Statue of Liberty Division, trainer Dominic Galluscio called an audible before giving a leg up to jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard Raffie’s Treasure.

“He said, `Let’s try something today and tell the starter to leave her alone, to let her break by herself,’” said Desormeaux. “She actually turned her head still when the doors opened, but she broke running. So, we were able to engage and she enjoyed the going.”


Beaten a total of more than 37 lengths in her last two starts, the three-year-old daughter of Raffie’s Treasure quickly gained the lead over the sloppy, sealed track and never looked back as she slogged her way to a 9 3/4-length victory in the race, switched from a mile and one-sixteenth on the turf to nine furlongs on the main track.

With the scratch of I Lost My Choo, who would have been the heavy favorite had the race remained on turf, Raffie’s Treasure was never threatened as she ticked through fractions of 24.54, 49.11 and 1:14.57, opening up through the stretch to hit the wire in 1:53.48.

“She’s sired by a horse that had a lot of winners on the mud,” said Galluscio. “Kent did a nice job of getting her out on the lead. She broke her maiden first time out, and I said she was going to be a nice filly, but she had a couple of excuses her last two races. She got off bad, and then she ran and the track was real sandy. Now, she showed herself today.”

Favored Study Abroad was second, 5 ¼ lengths clear of Ommadon’s Frenzy. Completing the order of finish were Western Slang and Talbots Shopper.

It was the second victory in four starts for Raffie’s Treasure, who looked good breaking her maiden at Aqueduct in April and then faded to finish sixth in her next two starts. The victory was worth $90,000 to her owner and breeders, Majesty Stud, and extended her bankroll to $118,000.

The fourth choice in the field of five, Raffie’s Treasure returned $14.20 for a $2 win bet.

“It was very fortunate for me that it came off the turf,” said Galluscio. “I did feel bad for Phil (Serpe, trainer of I Lost My Choo) and their connections – she was the heavy favorite on the turf. It just worked out my way this time.”

NEW YORK STALLION SERIES QUOTES STATUE OF LIBERTY DIVISION

Winning trainer Dominic Galluscio of Raffie’s Treasure (No. 6): “She broke her maiden first time out. It was very fortunate for me that it came off the turf. I did feel bad for Phil (Serpe, trainer of I Lost My Choo) and their connections; she was the heavy favorite on the turf. It just worked out my way this time. She’s sired by a horse that had a lot of winners on the mud. Kent (Desormeaux, jockey) did a nice job getting her out on the lead. She broke her maiden her first time out, and I said she was going to be a nice filly, but she had a couple of excuses in her last two races. She got off bad and then she ran and the track was real sandy. Now, she showed herself today.”

Winning jockey Kent Desormeaux: “Dominic (Galluscio, trainer) made a call in the paddock. She’s just like her brother – they get in a little hassle with the starter – so he said, let’s try something today and tell the starter to leave her alone, to let her break by herself. She actually turned her head still when the doors opened, but she broke running. So, we were able to engage and she enjoyed the going.”

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