Winfinity rallies to Miss Disco victory

Winfinity continued her love affair with Colonial Downs Saturday, powering home late to capture the $125,000 Miss Disco Stakes—the first of this year’s stakes series for Maryland- and Virginia-breds or -sired horses to be won by a Virginia-bred. Two earlier races run at Laurel Park went to Maryland-breds.

Bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm, the gray daughter of Not This Time rated kindly early under Ben Curtis as a contested pace unfolded in front of her. After tracking in fourth through sharp splits of 22.12 and 44.56, she advanced four-wide around the far turn and collared leader Grayson’s Girl, who had taken over from the dueling duo of Moon Cache and Conquerthosewecan, near the sixteenth pole.

Winfinity drove clear under minimal urging to win by 2 ¾ lengths in a sharp final time of 1:21.22 for seven furlongs.

Winfinity was much the best in the Miss Disco Stakes. Photo by Nick Hahn.

“This race just kind of—small field, bit of speed in there—it set up perfect,” said Curtis, last year’s Colonial Downs leading winner. “And from the quarter pole, I was never really in doubt. I had to pick up the stick at the eighth pole and give her one just to make sure, but she did it relatively easy, and she’s on a nice upward trajectory.”

Though based in Kentucky with trainer John Ortiz, Winfinity has clearly found a home in Virginia. She’s now two-for-three at Colonial Downs, including a win in last summer’s Keswick Stakes and a runner-up finish during this year’s March mini-meet. Her overall record stands at 6-2-1-1 with earnings of $196,480.

“She’s sweet,” Ortiz said. “She’s always eager to please. She’s never had a bad bone in her—just like always, good attitude. 24/7.”

Grayson’s Girl recovered from a sluggish start to press the pace three wide and led briefly in upper stretch before being outfinished. Moon Cache dueled outside Conquerthosewecan through the opening half but settled for third, just ahead of that rival. Shkhara Fire was a never-involved fifth. Green Eyed Monster, Mila Candy, and Safe Trust were scratched.

Winfinity, favored at odds of 1.40-1, returned $4.80 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.10 to show. The $2 exacta (5-6) returned $6.00, the 50-cent trifecta (5-6-2) paid $13.15, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-6-2-1) came back $4.35.

Winfinity is owned by Dream Big Racing.

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