Chelsea Durand Photo

My Italian Rabbi prevails in Stillwater thriller

by Najja Thompson

Gold Square's My Italian Rabbi won a stretch-long duel with post-time favorite Fierce Lady to capture Thursday's $100,000 Stillwater, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juvenile fillies at Saratoga Race Course.

Breaking from post 5 at odds of 8-1 with Luis Saez aboard for her stakes debut, My Italian Rabbi stalked 1-5 post-time favorite Fierce Lady, with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano in the irons, through opening fractions of 22.64 seconds for the opening quarter with the half going in 45.59 on the fast main track.

Hooking up at the quarter-pole, the pair in front separated themselves from the five-horse field in a heated battle to the wire with My Italian Rabbi prevailing by a nose.

My Italian Rabbi completed the six-furlong distance in a final time of 1:10.34.

"She broke very sharp. She was right there," said Saez. "I just stayed with her when we came to the stretch. We were trying and she finally got it in the last jump. When she raced the first time, she proved she could run. Today, she really proved it, too. I think she can get more distance. She can relax and go anywhere. We have a nice one right here."

Castellano was full of praise for the hard-trying Fierce Lady.

"She's a good filly," said Castellano. "She did pretty good today except for the 5 [My Italian Rabbi]. We just got beat on the [head] bob. Those things, you can't change."

Returning $19.80 for a $2 win wager, the daughter of Competitive Edge, bred by Hidden Lake Farm and Anthony Grey, was purchased for $160,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga preferred New York-bred Yearling sale in 2018.

My Italian Rabbi improved her record to 2-for-2 after winning her debut on May 30 at Belmont, while boosting her earnings to $89,100.

Winning trainer Jeremiah Englehart said the $200,000 Seeking the Ante on August 23 is a possible next start for My Italian Rabbi.

"I didn't know whether to root or not to root," said Englehart. "Every time I rooted for her, it seemed like she would drop back a little bit. Then, she started coming on, and just at that last jump, it looked like she was able to get the head bob.

"We probably didn't get the best Fierce Lady today; she'll probably be back and will be able to turn the tide," added Englehart. "Kudos to Fierce Lady in defeat, I thought she ran really well."

A length and a half back to Fierce Lady in second were Jewel of Arabia, Classy Sadie and Time Limit. Jen's Battle was scratched.

Live racing will resume on Friday with a first post of 1:00 p.m. featuring ten races highlighted by the Grade 3, $150,000 Lake George for 3-year-old fillies on the inner turf carded as Race 9.