Not even jockey Flavien Prat's hot hand aboard Mystic Lake was enough to fend off the stretch kick from the Tyler Gaffalione-ridden Emery in the $162,750 Victory Ride Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies July 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Prat, who had won five earlier races on the nine-race Fourth of July holiday program, looked poised to grab his sixth in early stretch, as Mystic Lake kicked away from the pace-chasing Halina's Forte, but Emery was relentless in notching her fourth victory in five starts. Third early in the field of four, she advanced into second coming into the lane and wore down the leader in the final sixteenth of a mile, zipping 6 1/2 furlongs in a sparking 1:15.44. She hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front.
Her first win at the graded level was her second black-type score, following a 3 1/2-length victory in the Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes last month at Churchill Downs. She is perfect in three starts this year, having won an allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland this spring to kick off her season. Those earlier efforts this year contributed to her starting as a short-priced favorite. She paid $3.20 to win.
Her earlier triumphs in 2024 resulted in blowouts for owner Stonestreet Stables, but this race was very much in doubt until late. The outcome appeared up for grabs between the top two until Mystic Lake, who had set splits of :21.72, :44.38, and 1:08.89, began to tire approaching the wire.
"Short field, was a little worried about the pace scenario, but both the two speed horses that I thought would go wound up sitting right in front of us. We were able to track them," Gaffalione said. "When I got to the turn, I just kind of let my filly out a bit, and she just kept building off of that. Coming into the stretch, the filly on the inside (Mystic Lake), she kicked home nicely, but my filly really dug in and finished the job well today."
Prat called his mount "game" and quick" but said the 6 1/2 furlongs of the race is probably "as far as she wants to go."
Halina's Forte weakened to third, 5 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up and 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Autumn Evening, who trailed throughout in the field of four. Golden Degree was scratched from the initial field of five.
Emery's fast finish and prior success on the seven-furlong Leslie's Lady could benefit her this summer. The Victory Ride often advances its winner or other top finishers toward the Aug. 3 Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course over seven furlongs.
She also has winning experience over the Saratoga oval, having won at first asking there last summer. Her lone defeat came when she returned from the race to finish fourth behind eventual champion 2-year-old filly Just F Y I in the one-mile Frizette Stakes (G1) last fall. She was then given a break.
“We’ve always thought a lot of her and Stonestreet always allows you to do the right thing by the horse," winning trainer Brad Cox said. "Patience paid off today and we’re very proud of what she’s accomplished. We’re looking forward to hopefully being on to bigger and better things.”
Summer Possibilities
Cox and Gaffalione won the Victory Ride for the first time. The trainer did not immediately commit to the Test, though he acknowledged it was possible.
"We’ll talk it over with the Stonestreet team and watch her first and foremost," he said. "There’s a good shot she’ll be getting on a van in a few days and heading to Saratoga.”
Bred in Kentucky by Mary Grum, Emery is out of the Street Sense mare Athena, a winner of three stakes. Two of her four foals of racing age have started and won, the other being Classic Runner (Gun Runner ), an earner of $34,445.
Barbara Banke's Stronestreet Stables purchased Emery as a weanling for $235,000 from the Nursery Place consignment to the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.
The winner is a daughter of More Than Ready, who died in 2022 after becoming a foundation sire for WinStar Farm. Progeny of the late stallion, who stood for $50,000 in his final year at stud, have continued to carry on his legacy. His son, Emmanuel, is another grade 3 winner for him this year.
Other Holiday Racing Action at Aqueduct
- Earlier on the card, heavily favored Mouffy rallied down the center of the turf course to capture the $139,500 Perfect Sting Stakes by a neck over Midnight Mile. Frankie Dettori was aboard for Jonathan Thomas, who trains the 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo for Augustin Stables.
- R. A. Hill Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds' Outlaw Kid won a stakes-quality allowance optional claiming race by outrunning Big Invasion with six furlongs on the outer turf in a course record 1:06.73 under Prat.
- Klaravich Stables' Headline Numbers turned heads with a debut romp by 11 3/4 lengths. The Chad Brown-trained 3-year-old daughter of Gun Runner covered a mile on dirt in 1:36.51 with Prat aboard.
