Prince Faisal Salman’s OLAYA (Theatrical [Ire]) was settled near the back of
Saturday’s $150,000
Long Island H. (G2) by jockey Edgar Prado before delivering a game rally late to grab the 1 1/2-mile test by a neck over Aqueduct’s firm
turf. Sent off the 7-2 second choice, the sophomore miss was worth $9.40, $5.60
and $4.70 to her backers and keyed the $45.60 exacta and $233 trifecta (4-6-1).
Little Buttercup (Labeeb [GB]) was quickest from the gate, grabbing the lead
through splits of :24 4/5, :50 4/5, 1:16 2/5 and 1:41 4/5. All the while, she
was closely tracked on the outside by Spotlight (GB) (Dr Fong), who quickly
moved to the front when asked by jockey Ramon Dominguez. The two appeared headed
for a trip to the winner’s circle, 1 1/2 lengths clear of their nearest rival in
the stretch, but Olaya had just started her run. Rallying along the inside
entering the stretch, she found room between horses and continued on along the
rail to just get her neck in front at the wire. Stopping the clock in 2:30 1/5, Olaya gave Prado one of his three wins on the day.
Spotlight just missed after a game run, paying $5.60 and $4.30 at 4-1 for
holding Kate Winslet (Signal Tap), who returned $8.80 at 11-1, to third by a
length. Next under the line were Serendipitous (Pleasant Tap), 4-5 favorite Latice (Ire)
(Inchinor [GB]), A Lulu Ofa Menifee (Menifee) and Little Buttercup.
Olaya captured the Derby du Languedoc while racing France earlier this year
and also placed in that country’s Grand Criterium de Bordeaux as a juvenile.
Making her U.S. debut here for new trainer H. Graham Motion, the bay lass now
owns a 9-3-2-1 career mark and more than doubled her earnings to $161,075.
Out of listed winner and Group 3-placed Solaia (Miswaki), Olaya was bred in
Kentucky by Belgrave Bloodstock and has an unraced juvenile half-sister named
Annalina (Cozzene).