Vasilika Continues Winning Ways in Gamely

Former claimer Vasilika (m, 5, Skipshot–La Belle Marquet, by Marquetry) made it four graded wins in a row over the Santa Anita turf with a late-charging victory in the GI Gamely S. in Arcadia Monday. The even-money favorite settled just off the pace as an eager Ahimsa (Animal Kingdom) pulled her way through fractions of :24.37 and :48.52. The longshot pacesetter looked upset-minded as she skipped clear at midstretch, but Vasilika was uncorking her late rally and strode confidently to the lead to win going away by 1 1/2 lengths. Rymska (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) just nipped the pacesetter for second. The time for the nine furlongs was 1:48.07.

Vasilika has proven to be an absolute win machine since being claimed for $40,000 out of her first start of 2018, capturing 11 of 13 starts, including the GI Rodeo Drive S. last September. Her win streak was snapped with a fourth-place effort in the Dec. 2 GI Matriarch S., but she returned to her winning ways in 2019. She opened the year with a win in the Jan. 21 GIII Megahertz S. and added victories in the Feb. 23 GII Buena Vista S. and Apr. 6 GII Royal Heroine S. Lifetime Record: 32-17-4-3, $1,358,595. O-All Schlaich Stables and Gatto Racing. B-Mikhail Yanakov (Ky). T-Jerry Hollendorfer.

Monday, Santa Anita Park
GAMELY S.-GI, $501,053, Santa Anita, 5-27, 3yo/up, f/m,
1 1/8mT, 1:48.07, gd.
1–VASILIKA, 123, m, 5, by Skipshot
1st Dam: La Belle Marquet, by Marquetry
2nd Dam: Good for Her, by Topsider
3rd Dam: Please Try Hard, by Nashua
O-All Schlaich Stables LLC, Hollendorfer, LLC, Gatto Racing, LLC
& G. Todaro; B-Mikhail Yanakov (KY); T-Jerry Hollendorfer;
J-Flavien Prat. $300,000. Lifetime Record: 32-17-4-3,
$1,358,595. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rymska (Fr), 123, m, 5, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Foreign Raider (Ire), by Lend a Hand (GB)
2nd Dam: Chania (Ire), by In the Wings (GB)
3rd Dam: Chalon (Ire), by Habitat
(€35,000 Wlg '14 ARQDEC). O-Elayne Stable 5, LLC, Long Lake Stable LLC, Madaket Stables LLC, Team Hanley & Tom
Coleman; B-Eric Feurtet (FR); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Ahimsa, 121, f, 4, by Animal Kingdom
1st Dam: Hot Affair, by Cuvee
2nd Dam: Artic Party, by Eskimo
3rd Dam: Partyship, by Premiership
O-Three Great Sons, LLC & Darryl Hughes; B-Three Great Sons,
LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $60,000.Margins: 1, HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 1.90, 21.80.
Also Ran: Elysea's World (Ire), Meal Ticket, Streak of Luck, Ollie's Candy, Causeforcommotion. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.