Woodbine: Sabatini wins 1st of 5 graded stakes Saturday

Sabatini, under Sofia Vives, stormed home to take the Grade
3, US$109,533 Selene Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.

Waves of Mischief and Red Samurai vied for top spot steps
out of the gate in the 1 1/16-mile, synthetic-track event for 3-year-old fillies with
the former eventually securing the lead and then carving out an opening panel
in 23.98 seconds. Sabatini, tucked in comfortably at the rail, watched the
proceedings from third.

It was Waves of Mischief still on top through a half-mile in
47.62 seconds, but her lead dwindled soon after as her rivals closed in ahead
of the turn for home. Vives had Sabatini rolling to the outside, but 2-5 choice
Witwatersrand, Canada’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2023, also was kicking
into gear as the field straightened for the push to the wire.

Sabatini shrugged off the challenge and went on to notch a
two-length score in a time of 1:43.07 and paid $11.40. Crevalle d’Oro rallied
for second, 3 ¼ lengths ahead of stablemate Witwatersrand.

“It’s such a good feeling to have such an honest, trying
filly and a good barn backing us and great owners,” Vives said. “Hopefully, we
can get many more together. … I had a lot of confidence in this horse. I have
a lot of confidence in the barn. And they always bring the horses over at 110
percent.”