MUSHKA MAKES COMMANDING RUN FROM LAST TO FIRST
Taken from the Bloodhorse
Karen M Johnson
Mushka’s future looks bright after she came from last to first
to win Aqueduct’s $200,000 Demoiselle Stakes (Gr.II) by 4 ½ lengths
on Nov. 24.
Mushka, ridden by John Velazquez, raced in last down the
backstretch of the 2-year-old-filly race. She was 10 ½ lengths
behind pacesetter Be Fruitful during the first quarter of the 1 1/8
mile race.
Heading into the final turn, Mushka was picking up horses
quickly. As the seven horse field turned for home, Mushka came with
a four-wide rush. As she cleared the eighth pole, Mushka enjoyed a
1 ½ length advantage.
Elusive Lady, the 5-2 favorite, finished second. Melissa Jo
checked in third, 3 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up.
Mushka returned $10.40 to win. She completed the distance
in 1.51.61 on a fast track.
‘Once she gets going she gets serious,’ Velazquez said,’ We got
to the lead a little early, so I wanted to keep her mind on
running. I hit her once and she got her left lead, then she went on
again and galloped out good. That was very impressive, but the
first part, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Once she got to
the backstretch, she said, ‘OK, now I’m ready.’’
Bill Mott, who trains Mushka, a daughter of EMPIRE MAKER, for
Zayat Stables, said he wasn’t too concerned when the filly was at
the back of the pack. He said he was happy she didn’t get caught in
the early fray of horses and riders jockeying for position into the
first turn.
‘Well, you always have to wonder until they get going,’ Mott
said. ‘She produced a good run on her own, (Velazquez) said.
Leaving the half-mile pole she just took off. She won her second
start on a (good) track that she didn’t necessarily like. In her
first start, she faced a group of good horses. The winner
(Backstreet Rhythm) became Grad I placed and the second horse
(Country Star) won the Alcibiades Stakes (Gr I).’
Mott said that the filly, purchased at auction as a yearling for
$1.6 million, will winter with him in Florida.
‘She will be nominated for everything; that’s usually what you
do,’ Mott said. ‘We’ll see if we can get her to the Kentucky Oaks
(GrI)
Date:
25 November 2007