Richard Ravin’s RICHIEGIRLGONEWILD (Wildcat Heir) wasn’t given much of shot
in Saturday’s $100,000
Old Hat S.
(G3) at Gulfstream Park, but the Larry Rivelli trainee dug in tenaciously in
the stretch to score a one-length victory as the 31-1 eighth choice in the
11-horse field.
Breaking from the 9 post, Richiegirlgonewild rushed up to take the lead while
angling toward the inside under jockey Tim Thornton. The bay miss proceeded to
reel off fractions of :22 1/5 and :46 1/5 while tracked by even-money favorite
Cuff Me (Officer). That rival couldn’t sustain the pressure and was soon
overtaken by Criolla Bonita (Lightnin N Thunder) and Joanie’s Catch (First Tour)
as Richiegirlgonewild clocked five furlongs in :58 3/5. Nobody could catch
Richiegirlgonewild, though, as she continued on to finish up six furlongs on the
sloppy, sealed, dirt in 1:11 4/5.
The winner rewarded her faithful, but few, backers with payouts of $64.20,
$28.20 and $13.60. Joanie’s Catch got the best of Criolla Bonita in the stretch
run, crossing under the line 1 1/4 lengths clear in second to return $32.20 and
$14.40 as the 48-1 ninth choice. Criolla Bonita easily held Cuff Me to fourth
while giving back $26.40 as the 85-1 longest shot on the board. Exotic players
were gifted with $2,057.80 for the exacta, a $36,803.60 trifecta and a 9-4-3-5
superfecta that totaled $70,819.80.
Southern Truth (Yes It’s True) followed the top four under the line, with
Touching Beauty (Tapit), My Jen (Fusaichi Pegasus), Malibu Legacy (Malibu Moon),
Dances With Ashley (Wildcat Heir), Female Drama (Indian Charlie) and Carphonic
(Lion Heart) completing the order of finish.
Richiegirlgonewild is now undefeated from three career starts and has banked
$96,600 in lifetime earnings. She began her career at Arlington Park last May,
capturing a two-furlong maiden by four lengths on the Polytrack, then wasn’t
seen in competition again until reappearing at Charles Town on November 18,
where she scored a three-length allowance victory over males. The bay lass received Lasix
for the first time while making her three-year-old debut here.
Bred in Florida by Robert and Mary Harris, Richiegirlgonewild was a $27,000
OBS August yearling RNA prior to selling to her current owner for $100,000 as an
OBS March two-year-old. The filly is the first stakes winner out of her unraced
dam, Dream With Angels (Saint Ballado), and has an unnamed juvenile full sister
and a yearling half-sister by City Place. Dream With Angels is herself a
half-sister to 2008 Korean champion Dongbanui Gangja (Broken Vow), and
Richiegirlgonewild’s third dam is Grade 2 winner Isayso (Valid Appeal).