Estrechada a long shot winner in the Waya
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Since being led off the plane last summer from her native Argentina, Estrechada had met with mixed results. In three graded starts in California, the six-year-old mare’s best finish was a third in the Santa Barbara (G3). Last out — in a tune-up for Saturday’s $200,000 Waya Stakes (G3), run at same 1½-mile distance — she could do no better than sixth in the ungraded River Memories Stakes at Belmont.
All things considered then, it was no surprise that Estrechada was sent off at 9-1 in the Waya. Reserved off a moderate pace for much of the way, the daughter of Offlee Wild came running in the stretch, using a wild-timed move by Javier Castellano to collar front-runners Suffused (the 4-5 favorite) and Apple Betty at
the sixteenth pole. Estrechada’s momentum carried her past those two, and she had enough left to hold off the late charge of Lottie by a half-length.
“Everything went well,” said Castellano. “I had a great position in the race with the way it unfolded. It’s a mile and a half race, and the way she did it I was impressed. She can run all day. I’m just thankful to ride that kind of horse.”
Estrechada, who competes for Slugo Racing, was clocked in 2:27.49 over firm going. Summersault finished third, a neck behind Lottie. Apple Betty, Suffused, Evidently and Guilty Twelve followed in that order.
Graham Motion was happy with the performance of runner-up Lottie, who was making her first start in a graded event. The 4-year- old Arch filly made up three lengths in the final furlong.
“I was really pleased,” said Motion. “I told [jockey] Joel [Rosario] that at the top of the stretch I was worried she wouldn’t get a piece of it.
Graham Motion was happy with the performance of runner-up Lottie, who was making her first start in a graded event. The 4-year- old Arch filly made up three lengths in the final furlong.
This filly wants to go a mile and a half or further, so I think we have found her niche. And look, to be competitive in this race today, that speaks a lot.”
For Suffused, it marked her third straight off-the- board finish after being in the exacta in seven straight races.
“She’s just not the same as she was earlier in the year,” said Bill Mott, who conditions the Waya favorite.
Estrechada is trained by California-based Mike Puype, who was represented in the Saratoga winner’s circle by assistant Raul Ayers. Her record improves to 5-4- 4 from 20 starts in the U.S. and Argentina, with total earnings at $227,842.