‘Wicked’ Renewal of the Adirondack

With dogged determination to wear down loose-on-the-lead favorite Tonasah, Just Wicked became the latest graded stakes winner by Tapit for the Winchell/Asmussen team. Second by a half-length as the favorite when unveiled over the Belmont lawn June 14, the grey scraped paint to earn her diploma on the local main track here on opening day July 24. With expected pace presence Kandoo (Kantharos) going to her nose at the start, Tonasah was able to sneak away without resistance as Just Wicked bided her time in fourth while out in the clear through an opening quarter of :22.21. The grey moved up with a rush to challenge for command through a half in :45.52, and the stage was set as the remainder of the field appeared already out of it. Tonasah repelled Just Wicked’s advances at first, but the latter found another gear in the final sixteenth to prevail by daylight.

“She had a great post today, Jose [Ortiz] gave her a great ride, and I think she beat a very good filly,” said Asmussen, who won this race in 2011 with eventual champion My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike). “It’s extremely satisfying–the Winchells, what they mean to my family and their breeding program. We trained this filly’s mother for the Winchells, as well… This is a very good filly and another graded stakes winner for the incredible sire Tapit.”

Winchell Thoroughbreds purchased the winner’s dam for $280,000 at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton July sale, and she went three-for-five for Asmussen, capping her career with a 5 1/4-length victory in the Tiffany Lass S. at Fair Grounds in February of 2011. Her first foal was the winning colt Tapit Wicked (Tapit), and Just Wicked was her second foal. She has a yearling colt by Tapizar (Tapit), produced a filly by Tapit earier this year and was bred back to Gainesway’s super sire once again.

 

Saturday, Saratoga
ADIRONDACK S.-GII, $200,000, SAR, 8-15, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:16.61, ft.
1–#@JUST WICKED, 118, f, 2, by Tapit
1st Dam: Wicked Deed (SW), by Harlan’s Holiday
2nd Dam: Marfa’s Squall, by Marfa
3rd Dam: Western Squall, by Gone West
O-Ron Winchell; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $184,800. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

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2–Tonasah, 118, f, 2, Malibu Moon–Quanah County, by Valid Expectations. ($170,000 Wlg ’13 KEENOV; $250,000 Ylg ’14 KEESEP). O-StarLadies Racing; B-Smart Angle, LLP (PA); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $40,000.

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3–Delicate Lady, 118, f, 2, Thunder Gulch–Love and Lies, by Broken Vow. ($18,000 RNA Ylg ’14 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-William & Dianna Shaffer (IL); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $20,000.

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Margins: 1 1/4, 8, NK. Odds: 3.35, 1.25, 4.90.
Also Ran: Decked Out, Lookout Sister, Kandoo, Heartbreaker Girl.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.