Susie Raisher Photo

Kantarmaci scores first graded win with Evvie Jets in G3 Noble Damsel

by Mary Eddy

Trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci earned the first graded stakes victory of his career when Evvie Jets rallied to a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Noble Damsel, a one-mile inner turf test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Owned by Robert J. Amendola, Evvie Jets scored the redemptive victory on the heels of a gutsy neck defeat last out to Love And Thunder in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Athenia on September 24 at the Big A, her graded stakes debut after finishing no worse than second in her last three outings at allowance level.

“Finally, she got the title she deserved,” said Kantarmaci. “She’s been knocking on the door for a long time in allowance races running first and second and then coming back in two stakes. Her last race was not a loss for her – it was just finishing second at the wire. She gave a winning run for us last time.”

Ridden to victory by Eric Cancel, Evvie Jets broke the best from post 3 in the compact field of five but was content to sit back as Por Que No rushed up on the outside to take command through an opening quarter-mile in 23.98 seconds over the firm footing.

Evvie Jets remained in second position down the backstretch while Plum Ali and stablemate Messidor vied for third position through a half-mile in 48.60 and three-quarters in 1:11.96. With Por Que No still in command in the turn, Cancel got to work aboard Evvie Jets and inched closer to be within striking range at the top of the stretch.

With Por Que No battling on gamely, Evvie Jets overtook the lead at the eighth pole under steady encouragement from Cancel, improving with each stride as the late-rallying Plum Ali made a bid from last down the center of the track. Evvie Jets had plenty left in the tank to stave off Plum Ali and the improving Messidor, crossing the wire first in a final time of 1:35.65.

Plum Ali secured place honors by a nose over Messidor with Por Que No settling for fourth a half-length back. Kept Waiting, who was unsettled throughout, completed the order of finish.

Kantarmaci said he was pleased with the ride given by Cancel.

“Today, Eric rode perfect. He put the one horse in the front [Por Que No] and made her a target,” Kantarmaci said. “He could save a little bit and it was a mile today – which is shorter than last time at a mile an eighth – so it was better for her. He moved at the perfect time and, in the stretch, she looked perfect today.”

Cancel said he was expecting a big run from Evvie Jets.

“She was training super and she had been running lights out,” said Cancel. “I just needed to have a nice trip and today was the day. She sat really beautiful behind the pacemaker and once she was ready to roll, I went with her.

“She’s a very tactical filly,” Cancel added. “She can be on the lead and she can come from right off the pace. Last time, I just got nailed by a horse than ran as hard as she did. Today, she just proved that she’s on her ‘A’ game. She’s been improving every race and I’m very happy that I got the win with her and happy for the Kantarmacis.”

Ilkay Kantarmaci, assistant to and brother of Mertkan, said winning a graded stake is a special milestone for him and his family, who moved to America from their native Turkey in 2016.

“It means a lot. We’ve won a lot of stakes races overseas, but in America it’s the first one,” said Kantarmaci. “I hope [there are] many more to come.”

The Noble Damsel was the fourth career win for the 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy, adding to a maiden claiming score at sixth asking last August at Saratoga Race Course, an allowance last November at the Big A and an optional claimer in July at Belmont Park. Originally conditioned by Tony Dutrow, she was haltered for $80,000 by her current connections out of a game second-place effort in an optional claimer last September at Belmont and has gone on to post a 7-for-9 in-the-money record since.

Kantarmaci said Amendola’s decision to claim the filly has more than paid off.

“We’re very happy to get a horse from a claiming race and get to this stage to win a graded race in New York with a horse we claimed for $80,000,” said Kantarmaci. “I want to thank Mr. Amendola for being brave to get this filly for that high claiming price, which not too many owners do that in the claiming game.

“I think we did a good job with her in training and now she’s in the spot she deserves and the queen of the barn right now,” Kantarmaci added. “We’re lucky to have her.”

Michael Amendola, Robert’s son, said the victory is meaningful for him and his father, whose last graded win came in the 2005 Grade 2 Genuine Risk Handicap at Belmont with Bank Audit.

“It’s a special win. It’s been a long time since we had a graded stakes win. This is the culmination of a long journey,” said Amendola. “Unfortunately, my dad couldn’t be here today, but I know he’s at home and cherishing this win. Matt [Mertkan] and Ilkay and all the guys at the barn do a wonderful job, and Eric gave her a beautiful ride today. I felt like today was going to be a lucky day and this was just a really special moment.

“We came back into the game after being out for 13 years and hooked up with these guys,” Amendola added. “We’re very happy. They do the right thing and care about the horses and we’re just enjoying this special moment.”

Kantarmaci added that Evvie Jets will likely target the $135,000 Forever Together traveling 1 1/16 miles over the turf on November 20 at the Big A.

Evvie Jets, who was bred in Kentucky by Farfellow Farms, returned $9.90 for a $2 win wager and earned $82,500 for the victory, boosting her total purse earnings to $364,530. Her career record stands at 16-4-5-2.

Manny Franco, aboard runner-up Plum Ali, said his filly gave her best effort.

“I tried to hustle her out of there because I wanted to be forward,” said Franco. “The pace was decent and I just took my time with her. She ran her race.”

Live racing resumes on Sunday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card, featuring the $120,000 Carle Place in Race 6. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern. 

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.