Big Days For Nakatani, Asmussen As My Miss Aurelia Fires In Frizette

 
By Jon Forbes | October 8, 2011 Email Bookmark and Share
 


My Miss Aurelia
 
Photo by Adam Coglianese  
   

My Miss Aurelia set a fast, contested pace and drew off in the stretch to register a 5 ½-length victory in the Grade 1, $300,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies, respectively giving jockey Corey Nakatani and trainer Steve Asmussen their sixth and fourth victories on Saturday’s card at Belmont Park.

Nakatani became the third jockey in Belmont Park history to win six races on a single card, matching the feats achieved by Jorge Velasquez in 1981 and Ramon Dominguez on June 5 during this year’s spring-summer meet. It was the 17th time a jockey has won six races on a single card on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) circuit.

In the Frizette, My Miss Aurelia rushed up from post position 1 to grab the lead from Spare Change, setting pressured fractions of 22.64 and 46.02. Nakatani took a confident look back following three-quarters in 1:10.38, and My Miss Aurelia ran away from her rivals in the stretch as runner-up Stopshoppingmaria gave vain chase in second.

My Miss Aurelia completed one mile in 1:35.22, returned $6.50 for a $2 win wager as the 2-1 second choice, and earned a guaranteed berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 4 at Churchill Downs, with the Frizette having been designated a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race.

“She actually would have gone faster if I let her; I was just trying to get her comfortable at a high cruising speed, knowing what her abilities are and what she can do when you ask her to go,” said Nakatani. “You’re basically just harnessing her energy and her power until the stretch and then you let her level out and do what she’s got to do to win the race.”

My Miss Aurelia is unbeaten in three starts, having debuted a one-length winner on July 22 at Saratoga Race Course and prevailing by a neck in the Grade 2 Adirondack on August 14 at the Spa. Her victory in the Frizette, her first race beyond 6 ½ furlongs, was worth $180,000, lifting her career earnings to $300,000.

“I thought her Adirondack was an excellent race, the way it set up and she showed a lot of heart,” said Asmussen, who trains the daughter of Smart Strike for Stonestreet Stables and George Bolton. “We just wanted more of the same. Not moving forward from here, you’re just expecting more of the same.”

Asmussen added that My Miss Aurelia will depart for Churchill Downs on Monday.

Miss Netta finished nine lengths behind the winner in third, followed home by Holiday Soiree, Spare Change, and Harbor Mist.

Nakatani rode all four of Asmussen’s winners, also taking race 1 with Tapizar ($9.30), race 2 with Precious Metal ($8.10), and race 4 with Monzante ($11.00). In addition, he rode Two Months Rent to victory in race 5 for trainer Jimmy Toner, completing a Pick 3 that returned $184 for a $2 wager, and Western Aristocrat to an upset score in race 7, the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap, for English trainer Jeremy Noseda. Nakatani’s attempt to break the single-day record came up short when Rubber Duck finished third in race 10.

“I’m glad to be here and looking forward to getting a lot of opportunities and trying to make the most of them,” said Nakatani. “It’s unbelievable. Days like today, they don’t come around very often. I’m here to stay. I love New York and everyone has been very supportive. Hopefully we can get some opportunities to try and fight for leading rider.”