Note: Once a week till the week before the Breeders' Cup, this blog will be featuring a BC race in a new feature called Breeders' Cup Memories. For those who remember the Vault Series on Furlong Drive, these posts are set up basically the same. This week, we look back at the 1989 Juvenile Fillies.
Going into the Breeders' Cup in 1989, the Juvenile Fillies Christiana Stable's Go For Wand (Deputy Minister) had won 2 races and finished second to Stella Madrid (Alydar) in the Frizette, her prep race. Other horses she would have to face in the race included, G3 placed Voodoo Lily (Baldski), the for mentioned Stella, G2 winners Dance Colony (Pleasant Colony), and G1 placed Special Happening (Relaunch) among many others.
After the break, Special Happening went right for the lead. Wanda (as Go for Wand was affectionally known by) got pinched back on the first turn to sit in about 5th. As the turned for home, she started to make her move and in the stretch it was her and Stella. This time though, she would win the race by 3 lengths over G2 winner Sweet Roberta (Roberto). Stella Madrid who may have made her move too early finished third in the race.
Go For Wand would be named 2yo Champion Female. As a 3yo she would be even better with lose only once in the KY Oaks to Seaside Attraction (Seattle Slew) who would grow up to be the dam to 1995 BCJF 3rd place finisher and 2yo Champion Filly Golden Attraction (Mr. Prospector). Her wins included the Alabama, Maskette, and Beldame. Sadly, Wanda broke down at Belmont in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Distaff where she was dueling for the win with the defending champion Bayakoa (ARG) (Consulantant's Bid) who would win the race. She was euthanized afterwards and is buried at Saratoga.
Posthumously she was named 3yo Champion Filly and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996. The Maskette was renamed the Go For Wand Handicap which has bounced around all three NYRA tracks the past few years. Also, even though she never raced in Delaware (where her dam Obeah won 2 Delaware Handicaps), the prep for the past several years for the Delaware Oaks has been named the Go For Wand Stakes (although it was not run this year I believe).
No comments:
Post a Comment