Galinda takes center stage in $135K East View

Waterville Lake Stables’ Galinda steps up in class as she looks to validate a strong debut in Saturday’s $135,000 East View, a seven-furlong sprint for New York-bred sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Miguel Clement, the Good Magic bay pushed the tempo sprinting six furlongs versus fellow state-breds over good and sealed dirt on January 10 here and held a half-length advantage at the stretch call. Princess Jane drew up to her outside and the pair dueled all the way to the wire, with Galinda gamely holding on by three-quarter-lengths under returning rider Jaime Rodriguez in a final time of 1:12.02. 

The victory earned a field-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure and it was another eight lengths back to the third place finisher. 

“I thought that debut was incredibly impressive,” Clement said. “In regards to her speed ratings, whatever figures you believe in, it was rather fast. That was no surprise because we liked her shipping up from Payson Park. She has class. She is a very talented filly by Good Magic.”

Bred by Daniel J. Burke and Kathleen Burke Schweizer, Galinda, a $120,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale, is out of the stakes-winning Super Saver mare Super Humor. Her second dam is multiple stakes-winner Heavenly Humor, who produced Grade 2-placed Funny How and multiple stakes-winner Funny Guy, both New York-breds. 

“She has a serious pedigree page, it would be great to get some black type,” said Clement. “She has a serious female line, Funny How was a very good filly for the Adelphi Racing partnership, Funny Guy was proven on the New York-circuit. She fits the mold of what Waterville was trying to obtain: a fun New York-bred dirt filly for the season.” 

Galinda will exit the outermost post 7 in rein to Rodriguez, who has amassed more than 2,600 career wins, including the Grade 2 Flower Bowl with Bellezza for the Clement stable in August at Saratoga Race Course. Through January, Rodriguez was second in the Aqueduct jockey standings with 16 wins, one shy of back-to-back Eclipse Award-winner Flavien Prat.

“Jaime is a very talented jockey. I’m very excited to have him in the New York-circuit. He is a strong finisher, easy to speak with and get along with from a human point-of-view,” Clement said. “He has a very strong work ethic and good hands. I think he is a very positive addition to the New York jockey colony. His agent John Panagot is very good, look at the job he’s done with Manny Franco and what he’s doing with Jaime Rodriguez, he is clearly doing a tremendous job with both jockeys.” 

Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables’ Rina’s Revenge [post 2, Christopher Elliott] closed from 10 lengths back in last-of-5 to defeat next-out winning returning rival Pinky Brier by a head in a seven-furlong state-bred allowance last out on December 12 here. Trained by Ken McPeek, the Yaupon dark bay was previously off-the-board in a pair of stakes attempts over the local one-turn mile in October, when eighth in the Grade 1 Frizette and fifth in the state-bred Maid of the Mist. 

Rina’s Revenge rallied to graduate by 4 3/4 lengths in her six-furlong debut in August at Saratoga Race Course. McPeek spoke highly of his New York-based string of sophomore fillies with Rina’s Revenge targeting state-bred stakes and Shilling as the likely favorite in Friday’s $135,000 Ruthless. 

“She’s in a good routine up there so we let her stay put,” McPeek said. “I think she needs New York-bred company. I think in open-company, she’s not as good as Shilling, but in New York-bred company, she’s spot-on.”

Rina’s Revenge breezed a bullet half-mile from the gate in 47.60 seconds on Thursday over the Belmont Park dirt training track for her third work back since her last race. 

Bred by TLC Thoroughbreds, Rina’s Revenge, out of the winning Mineshaft mare Mine as Well, was a $150,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale. 

Sanford Goldfarb, Estate of Ira Davis, Steven Speranza, and Jay Goldberg’s Pinky Brier [post 5, Manny Franco] is 2-for-3 since being haltered for $50,000 by dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. The McKinzie dark bay made her first three starts for trainer Mike Maker, culminating with a pacesetting 10-length local victory sprinting six furlongs in October when she was claimed. 

Pinky Brier exited to win a local 6 1/2-furlong open starter allowance in November ahead of her aforementioned head defeat to Rina’s Revenge. She returned to the winner’s circle last out sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in a state-bred optional claimer, earning a career-best 76 Beyer in the three-quarter-length victory over stakes-placed Hot Currency. 

Bred by Danzel Brendemuehl and Colleen Smith, Pinky Brier, out of the Grade 2-placed Tapiture mare Exchange Vows, was a former $225,000 purchase at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale.

Twin Sports Racing, Cypresshead Racing and Let's Go Racing’s Victory Hall [post 3, Reylu Gutierrez] makes her first effort since a half-length score in the six-furlong Shesastonecoldfox in November at Finger Lakes Racetrack. Trained by John Ortiz, the Independence Hall bay entered that race from a third in the local Maid of the Mist in October. 

Victory Hall, prior to her aforementioned efforts, made a trio of starts for trainer Carlos David, graduating second-out sprinting six furlongs in August at Saratoga by two lengths over next-out winners Belloro and Probable Angle, next capturing an optional claimer at the same distance in September at Delaware Park. 

Bred by Stonegate Stables and Everythings Cricket Racing, Victory Hall, a $30,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the winning Into Mischief mare Into Victory. 

My Purple Haze Stables’ Purple Divine [post 4, Jose Lezcano] graduated last out in a maiden optional claimer over course and distance on December 27. Trained by Chris Englehart, the Tiz the Law bay dueled for the lead through the half-mile en route to a three-quarter-length victory over Liam’s Diva. 

Purple Divine improved from a 2 1/2-length third in her six-furlong debut over muddy and sealed footing in November at Finger Lakes. Bred by Amy Boll, Purple Divine, a $38,000 purchase at the 2025 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, is out of the winning Arch mare Raving About You. Her second dam is Grade 3-winner She’s Indy Money. 

Rounding out the field is maiden winner Blue Note [post 1, Sahin Civaci] for trainer Linda Rice and Into Hijinks [post 6, Dexter Haddock], who is cross-entered and drew post 11-of-11 in a local state-bred maiden on Friday for trainer Louis Linder, Jr. 

The East View is slated as Race 4 on Saturday’s 10-race card, which also features the $135,000 Damon Runyon in Race 9. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

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