Orglandes © Benoit Photo
New York invader Orglandes turned it on late under champion jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to take down honors by a half length in the Grade III Red Carpet Handicap at Del Mar on Thanksgiving Day.
The winner, who is owned by the partnership of Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables, is a 4-year-old French-bred filly by the Irish sire Le Harve and she ran the demanding 11 furlongs on turf in 2:15.85. As the 11-10 favorite, she returned $4.20, $3.40 and $2.80 across the board in capturing her initial stakes victory.
Finishing second in the seventh edition of the Grade III test for fillies and mares was Bederian, Kamberian or Nakkashian, et al’s Going to Vegas and third was Hronis Racing’s Quick.
Orglandes took home $60,000 from the $102,500 purse which pushed her career earnings to $154,772. She raced in her native France as a 2- and 3-year-old, then was purchased privately by American interests and her outing today was her third U.S. start. She’s won four of 10 lifetime starts and now races out of the powerhouse barn of champion trainer Chad Brown.
Going to Vegas, off at odds of 15-1, paid $11.80 and $6.20, while Quick, who went postward at 8-1, returned $5.00 to show.
In the day’s Pick Six wagering, a single ticket holder betting out of the Maryland hub was the only one to ring the bell with all six winners and took down a prize of $248,187. That fan had wagered $13,753 on his ticket.
Racing resumes at Del Mar Friday with first post at 12:30 p.m.
IRAD ORTIZ, JR. (Orglandes, winner) – “I had no special instructions. Just ride her. I liked where I was throughout the race. We thought this would be a better distance for her. The last time (winning allowance race at Belmont Park on October 9) it was too short for her (nine furlongs). She got ‘racy’ on me. But this distance is much better for her. She did well with it.”
JOSE HERNANDEZ, assistant to Chad Brown (Orglandes, winner) – “I wasn’t really worried (about the inquiry). There was a little bump but nothing serious. Chad talked to the jockey in the morning. He said just to break and play off of it. It’s a mile and three-eighth, a long race, so the jockey can do what he feels. The pace was good and he was in a really good position and then made a strong finish.”
FRACTIONS: :24.91 :49.06 1:14.71 1:40.08 2:04.46 2:15.85
This was the first stakes win of the meet for rider Ortiz, Jr. and his first victory in the Red Carpet. He now has two stakes wins at Del Mar.
This was the first stakes win of the meet for trainer Brown and his first in the Red Carpet. He now has nine stakes wins at Del Mar.
The winning owners are Michael Dubb of Jerico, NY, Jason Montleone of New York City who races under the nom du course of Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables.