Wasted Tears continued her dominance in the Ouija Board Distaff Stakes (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO), winning the race for the third year in a row May 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas. Heavily favored, she romped by five lengths, covering a mile over a firm course in 1:34.06 in her first outing this year.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Wasted Tears stalked the early pace set by Sheer Beauty, who completed the first quarter mile in :22.77. But the eventual winner didn’t trail for long; she was a head in front a half mile into the race and then never lost command.
Category Seven rallied to take second, finishing 3 1/4 lengths in front of Sheer Beauty, who edged The Cat Who by three-quarters of a length for third. It was another three quarters of a length back to Slide On Bye, who was a head in front of Cherry Pink. Bella Diamante finished last.
Bred, owned, and trained by Bart Evans, Wasted Tears scored by a neck over Fortunia in the 2010 Ouija Board Distaff and triumphed in the 2009 edition by a length. A 6-year-old daughter of Najran, Wasted Tears had been out of action since a runner-up effort in last November’s Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park.
“I’ve never had one quite like her. She’s so intelligent and she has such a high cruising speed,” said Evans. “She’s kind of like an airplane, once she reaches cruising altitude she’ll tell you to take the seat belt off.”
The Ouija Board Distaff’s 2011 purse was $200,000, and Wasted Tears’ winning share of $119,000 raised her career earnings $889,598. She has won 12 times and finished second twice in 19 races.
Following Wasted Tears’ latest Ouija Board Distaff victory, she returned $2.80, $2.20, and $2.10 to her backers. Category Seven paid $4 and $3, while Sheer Beauty returned $2.80.
Bred in Kentucky, Wasted Tears is out of the Greinton mare Wishes and Roses.