Via Villaggio broke free in the stretch to post an upset in the Railbird Stakes
Steve Beneto owned 3-year-old filly, Via Villaggio posted a half-length victory when she overhauled the overwhelming favourite, Sister Moon, in the Grade 3, $98,000 Railbird Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on 19 May, 2012.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, stalked on the inside in third under jockey Martin Pedroza, as rider Garrett Gomez aboard Sister Moon ran away to the front after breaking from the rail, but she didn’t go unchallenged, as Dijarvo rallied on the outside through
quarter mile splits of 22.92 seconds and covered half mile in 46.54 seconds.
Over the Hollywood Park’s cushion track, Via Villaggio tracked until the stretch, and after rounding off the bend had enough room to run along the rail, as she downed three runners. While Sister Moon racing between horses gained a slight advantage by leading
for a brief period.
Pedroza’s left handed crack of the whip came handy, as the daughter of Bernardini responded and made her final sprint to the wire – which gave her a slight lead past the furlong pole.
Via Villaggio, who scored back to back fifth place finishes this season started off her campaign with a fifth place finish in the China Doll Stakes at Santa Anita Park on 10 March, 2012, to winner Lady of Shamrock, who covered the one mile distance over
the Santa Anita Park’s hillside turf course in 1 minute and 33.73 seconds.
It was at Hollywood Park’s turf course where the filly finished fifth once again, this time to winner, Bobina, in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes.
In the Railbird Stakes, Via Villaggio repelled Sister Moon’s late challenge to earn a well deserved victory with the winning time of 1 minute and 23.03 seconds.
"When I saw that filly (Sister Moon) getting out, I thought maybe Garrett (Gomez) was just setting me up to get in there, but I could see she kept drifting out," Pedroza said. "I didn't want to take any chances on getting stopped, so I got up inside when
I could. It was better to take a chance and move a little early rather than having to check and lose my momentum."
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