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By Tom LaMarra
The Very One, at five furlongs on the turf May 19 at Pimlico Race Course, drew a full field of 14, though the condition of the turf course in light of predicted rain could play a factor. Ten Broeck Farm’s 6-year-old mare Chanteline, who won stakes on dirt and turf in her last three races, drew the inside post and will run on the turf or dirt.
“We’ll see if they run on the turf,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “She will run either way. She’s very versatile. I don’t think she really cares what the surface is. I think with the distance, it’s just a good spot for her.”
Chanteline won the Spring Fever Stakes at six furlongs on the dirt at Oaklawn in her last start, and three starts back won the Richard Scherer Memorial Stakes at five furlongs on the turf at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
Sycamore Racing V’s Jessica Krupnick, trained by Francis “Tres” Abbott III, finished off the board in her only turf attempt but has a win and a second in two starts on off tracks, including her most recent victory at Laurel. The 5-year-old Uncle Mo mare, to be ridden by Forest Boyce, shipped to Woodbine in Canada for her last start and led until the final yards in a six-furlong Canadian grade III stakes.
The Very One is the first race in the five-race Filly & Mare Sprint–Turf Division of the MATCH Series.
By Tom LaMarra
Girls Know Best has proven equally adept on turf or dirt, so it was no surprise when she was sent away as the favorite in the off-the-turf $100,000 The Very One Stakes and reported home a winner May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
The Very One is the first of five MATCH Series races in the Filly and Mare Sprint—Turf Division, but consistent and at times heavy rain over several days forced the race to the main track. The points for finish position, however, still count toward the division, and the next race in the sequence is the $100,000 Penn Ladies Dash on the grass at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course June 2.
Girls Know Best, adept on turf and dirt, won the off-the-turf The Very One Stakes at Pimlico/Jim McCue photo
The Very One attracted 14 entries and, because of the surface switch, eight went to post. Girls Know Best, owned by Brian Chenvert and trainer Eddie Kenneally, took command under Javier Castellano from front-running Victorias Fire at the top of the stretch in the five-furlong stakes and pulled away to win by 1 ¾ lengths over Pretty Perfection. Anna’s Bandit, based at Laurel Park, broke last and rallied nicely for third.
Girls Know Best covered the distance on a sloppy track in :57.00 and paid $4 to win. The 4-year-old Caleb’s Posse filly is based in Kentucky with Kenneally, so it remains to be seen whether she will return for future MATCH Series events.
“We know about the series, and I will talk to Eddie about it,” said Bill Chenvert, father of the co-owner.
“I didn’t know what to think (about running on off track),” Kenneally told Maryland Jockey Club media officials by phone. “I contemplated scratching her, even though she has won six races on the dirt, but not at this level. I didn’t know if I should run her or not, but we decided to go ahead and it worked out.
She had won five races before we claimed her. She knew how to win. A 3-year-old having already won five races means a lot. She looked like she was a pretty sound filly so we went ahead and claimed her. She has matured and I think she’s just sort of got lucky, really. We’ll see what comes up for her. I think she will go back to the grass.”
Girls Know Best earned 10 points for her victory in The Very One. Pretty Perfection, who is based at Monmouth Park with trainer Kelly Breen, now has 7 points, followed by Anna’s Bandit (5), Chanteline (3), Smiling Causeway (2), Daylight Ahead (1), Keep Your Distance (1) and Victorias Fire (1).