The Riskaverse goes to Maryland-bred Monte Crista
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » In a field of nine 3-year- old fillies that did not include a single stakes winner, something had to give in Thursday’s $100,000 Riskaverse Stakes.
Tapit Today, the 2-1 posttime favorite was given the best chance of notching her first added-money win. But it was Monte Crista (4-1), third choice in the wagering in the one-mile turf event, who won the day, sprinting away from the field in the stretch and coasting home to prevail by 1¼ lengths. .
Longshot Madame X. (721) showed the way through a half in 50.44 seconds, while stalked by the eventual winner. Jose Ortiz sent Monte Crista after the leader approaching the quarter-pole, and the daughter of Cape Blanco responded at once, putting away Madame X. and, cutting the corner nicely, extended a short lead to 2½ lengths at the eighth pole. Tapit Today ate up a lot of
ground late but did not seriously threaten Monica Crista.
The running time over a firm Inner Turf course was 1:37.28. Goodhtingstaketime finished third, followed
in order by Punked, Quaff, Sweet Sting, Ferdinanda, Madame X. and Going Out.
“She’s developing one race after another, she seems to want to get better and better,” said winning trainer Michael Trombetta. “She was a little unlucky in Indiana [finishing third in the Ta Wee Stakes]. She had a poor start and
was stuck behind a slow pace. Today, it was much better. Jose [Ortiz] was determined to [get] her out of the gate and on her way.”
“She broke good,” said Ortiz, who was riding Monte Crista for the first time. “I just wanted to make sure she got away out of there without any problems because I knew
there wasn’t a lot of speed in there. I knew that would give her the best chance to win. The last sixteenth, I felt her slowing down, but she was already home.”
The Maryland- bred Monte Crista, who competes for Country Life Farm, has now won four of six starts and banked $139,910.