Photos: SV Photography
By Sarah Mace
Richie Rich Racing Stable and Jackie Stauffer’s Finger Lakes-based Wait a Minute carried the local hopes into Wednesday’s 33rd running of the $75,000 New York Oaks for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Given a 5-2 chance to beat her three rivals and overshadowed in the betting by downstate invader and 1-5 favorite Espresso Shot, Wait a Minute, who is also trained by Jackie Stauffer, pressed the pace early, took control along the backstretch and turned back the favorite’s bid before posting a 2-length victory.
A bay daughter of Discreetly Mine, Wait a Minute has been facing stakes company ever since her winning debut on October 1, 2018, with the best result to date coming when, in her first start against winners, she ran second to the talented Sassy Agnes in the Shesastonecoldfox Stakes at Finger Lakes last October. The filly rounded off her ju
venile campaign in the Key Cents Stakes at Aqueduct where she made no impact.
Returning to competition at three in Finger Lakes’ Niagara Stakes on June 17, Wait a Minute appeared to need a race, finishing 13 lengths behind winner Miss Lily. Next out, however, she put Farmington on notice. Stretching out to two turns for the first time and going 1 mile and 70 yards, she absolutely demolished a “non-winners of two lifetime” allowance field, posting an eye-popping 23 1/4-length victory.
Sharp out of the gate, Wait a Minute began the 1 1/16-mile journey of the New York Derby by pressing pacesetter Awillaway to her inside through an opening quarter mile in 23.81. Two-wide through the clubhouse turn, early along the backstretch Wait a Minute put away Awillaway, opened up a length and completed the half-mile in 47.45 on the lead.
Late-running Espresso Shot, who stumbled at the start, began her bid on the backstretch and advanced from last into second at the rail, getting on nearly even terms with Wait a Minute by the head of the stretch.
The two battled in upper stretch, but in the final furlong Wait a Minute dug in two-wide, under jockey Jose Baez, reclaimed a clear lead and cruised home unchallenged to win by 2 lengths. Espresso Shot had to settle for second, finishing 5 lengths ahead of Elegant Zip in third who finished well in advance of Willaway.
After a mile in 1:48.17, the final time for the 1 1/16 miles over the fast track. Presumptive favorite Newly Minted was scratched. [VIDEO REPLAY]
The New York Oaks was originally scheduled to be run last Saturday, but the card was cancelled due to excessive heat.
Bred by Gary and Stacy Machiz and foaled at Majestic View Farms International in Gardiner, Wait a Minute is the most recent reported foal out of Brazilian-bred Ess Brilha (Roi Normand). She produced seven winners from eight foals to start and Wait A Minute is her first offspring to earn black type. Her most outstanding foal previously was New Jersey-bred Papadopalous, a gelding by Mutakddim who has earned $214,873 in 44 starts.
Wait a Minute changed hands once at public auction, bring $10,000 form Nick J. Hines at the 2018 OBS open horses of racing age sale. From three wins and a second-place finish in six starts she has earned $83,329.
