The Wilson Chute, revived after a 30-year absence, returned to Saratoga Race Course on July 14, the opening day of the 40-day meet. And it was met with approval from the top finishers in the first running of the $135,000 Wilton Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going a mile.
The race was won by 6-5 favorite Tarabi, who ran the mile in a pokey time of 1:38.53. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who had three winners on the day, Tarabi took control in the stretch and won by three- quarters of a length.
"It was nice to see that she settled, came with a run, and she persevered through the wire," Cherie DeVaux, the victorious trainer, said in the winner's circle.
DeVaux, who was born in Saratoga Springs, is based in Kentucky. This was the first stakes win for Tarabi, a daughter of First Samurai —Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie. She broke her maiden at Ellis Park last August in her first start and then was second in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.
Tarabi finished her rookie season with a third-place finish in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar.
In her first start this year, Tarabi, owned by LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock, and David Igordo, finished second in an allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs on June 18.
"She wasn't cranked up to run her best race to start the year off," DeVaux said. "It was just a place to get started and something to move forward to for bigger races this year."
Tarabi and DeVaux could return in the $500,000 Longines Test (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 6.
The Wilton was DeVaux's second stakes win at Saratoga. She won the Shine Again Stakes with Bayerness last summer.
The Wilson Chute, which was dismantled in 1972, reappeared at the Spa in 1992 for one season.
The new Wilson Chute runs parallel to Nelson Avenue and is designed to give riders a fair run into the first turn and then onto the backstretch. It allows for races to be run at the mile distance.
"The chute is fine," DeVaux said. "We run a lot at Ellis Park and it's similar to the chute at Ellis. For my horses running—not Tarabi necessarily—it's not something we're not used to."
In the field of seven in the Wilton (Let's Be Clear and Sweet Solare were scratched), Tarabi started from post 6. The Todd Pletcher-trained Goddess of Fire, who finished second, broke from the rail.
"There was plenty of room," Castellano said.
A group of riders—including Castellano and fellow Hall of Famer John Velazquez—took part in a test run from the Wilson Chute on Tuesday and they all felt the new configuration was fair and safe.
Velazquez rode Goddess of Fire, a daughter of Mineshaft , and said he had to come out of the gate running to get position.
"I thought it went well," Velazquez said of the debut of the new Wilson Chute.
The Brad Cox-trained Angitude, who is by Violence , broke fastest with Joel Rosario and set fractions of :24:75 for the first quarter and :48.70 for the half over the fast track.
Tarabi made her move on the leader rounding the final turn and began to show her superiority as she came away with the lead at the eighth pole.
Goddess of Fire, the 3-1 second choice, edged past Angitude to get second by a head. Gina Romantica was fourth followed by Favor, St Maarten Girl and A Mo Reay.
Tarabi paid $4.40 to win.
Pletcher, who saddled Favor and A Mo Reay in addition to Goddess of Fire, said he thought the first Wilson Chute went smoothly but did question the fractions.
"It seemed kind of slow for these type of fillies to be going that slow," he said. "But, as far as the way the race unfolded, it seemed like a pretty fair race."
Pletcher said he was unsure if it was necessary to have the Wilson Chute, but said he will give it time.
"I am not going to judge it this soon," the 14-time leading Saratoga trainer said. "I did not see a huge need for it; maybe it will turn out to be a good thing. We will participate when our horses fit the category."
