My List Surprises Bear Now in Whimsical

(from Woodbine report)

The 4-year-old filly My List rallied from far back to defeat even-money favorite Bear Now by three-quarters of a length in the US$156,315 Whimsical Stakes (Can-III) (VIDEO) at Woodbine April 20, giving trainer Nicholas Gonzalez his third stakes victory of the month.

My List was completed the Whimsical in 1:09.71 for six furlongs on Polytrack for her second straight added-money triumph. The bargain daughter of Banker's Gold closed out her sophomore campaign with a narrow victory in the Bessarabian Stakes, in which she defeated older rivals. Front-runner Shot Gun Ela, who set fractions of :22.02 and :44.97 in a pace duel with Marina Ballerina, held on for third, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

"I bought the filly just for a joke, for $1,200, for my wife (assistant trainer Martha)," said an elated Gonzalez afterward. "I sold her to (owner Tucci Stables) and I'm glad I did. They were nice enough to let us keep training her. Two years and almost a half million dollars later, things have been good for everybody connected."

The victory elevated My List's career earnings to $443,265. She is now 5-for-20 lifetime.

"She was there to win today," said winning rider Eurico Rosa da Silva, who was also aboard for the Bessarabian performance. "When you go six furlongs there is always a lot of speed. The way the speed was today, I preferred to stay (off the pace) with her because I knew she'd make a good move. She ran a big race."

Gonzalez, who also won the La Voyageuse with Shilla and the Achievement Stakes with Stuck In Traffic since Woodbine's opening, can't explain the impact of the 'Da Silva factor' on Kentucky-bred My List.

"It's one of those intangible things about racing. You don't understand why they work, but they work," he explained. "(Eurico) was our substitute rider a couple of times when other riders had taken other calls. He won a stake with us with Artie Hot and with My List. We weren't going to take him off either horse. He got the job done today."

My List wintered in Ontario under the care of Martha Gonzalez. Going into the Whimsical, the stable was confident it had a nice 4-year-old.

"There was really no reason, when we saw how she matured from three to four, that we didn't think she could be just as good, if not better, this year," Nicholas Gonzalez said. "She was always a good-sized filly, but mentally she's gotten a lot better."

My List was seventh after a half-mile and rallied gamely while traveling four wide into the stretch to defeat Bear Now, who gained the lead briefly for Jerry Baird before giving way late.

"Today wasn't her best distance," Gonzalez said of My List. "She was having trouble getting up going three-quarters last year. When she goes a little farther, she'll still be good, too."

My List returned $13, $4.40, $3.60, combining with Bear Now ($3.50, $3) for a $34 exacta. Shot Gun Ela, with Emile Ramsammy aboard, was $8.90 to show and rounded out a $535.40 trifecta. Into Reality, Sudsy Baby, Prophetically, Quelle Beaute, Marina Ballerina and Yolie followed.

(Chart, Equibase)