The Argentine mare got boxed in along the rails, broke free, and finished with ease to win the Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes (L) at Fair Grounds, showcasing her standout class
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (Special for Turf Diario).- We have to be honest: when José Ortíz went inside with Nanda Dea in the final stretch of the Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes (L-1700 m, turf, US$ 100,000 purse) this Saturday at Fair Grounds, hearts stopped.
The Argentine mare found herself boxed in, unable to pass, and there wasn’t much time left to fix the original decision. However, the jockey, lost but determined, went all in, lifted her, found space through the middle of the track, and in the final furlong, the champion made a miraculous turn of pace to rewrite a story that, just moments earlier, seemed sealed.
If the potential materializes, Argentina and South American racing may have another diamond in the rough to shine in the United States, backed by an almost foolproof man who has shown time and again his ability to give our best horses the best opportunities there.
Just like with Blue Prize (Pure Prize), Dona Bruja (Storm Embrujado), or Didia (Orpen), to name a few, Ignacio Correas (h.)'s patience and coldness were key to Nanda Dea’s great victory, passing on an earlier race due to track conditions (it was heavy and switched to dirt), and bringing her along slowly, building confidence and following the same recipe that gave such excellent results in the past.
Nanda Dea contributed her own magic. The race she won was impressive—one that any normal good horse would have lost. But she is much more, so much more. "She broke well, and I was able to place her where I wanted, at a pace that wasn't very fast. At the 400 meters, I started asking her to see what she had, and I got into trouble. I waited for the right moment to go; when I found it, she gave me her best response. I'm sure Nacho was nervous at home," José Ortíz shared with a smile, knowing he played just as big a role in finding obstacles as in overcoming them.
With 2 wins out of 2 in the United States, Nanda Dea ended up winning by a half-length, with much suffering, over Join the Dance (Shackleford) in 1m44s64/100. The future possibilities are vast, and the goal is clear: to bring the mare to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. After what was seen at Fair Grounds, there is no doubt that those dreams are fully justified.
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