Trainer Jason Servis had a feeling that Island Time was ready to step up and earn her first stakes victory, but racing fans were quite skeptical, sending her off as a 16-1 long shot in the $91,500 Desert Vixen Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.
The Florida-bred filly rewarded her trainer for his confidence by leading every step of the way for a 1 ¼-length victory over the favored Triple Cream. Island Time, a daughter of Trippi bred by Reddick’s Karl M. Hohensee, improved her record to three wins from seven starts and boosted her bankroll to $111,720. Owned by Bill and Vicki Poston, she was a $52,000 purchase as a weanling at OBS in October 2007.
Island Time led the field of five 3-year-old fillies through fractions of 23.81 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.56 seconds for a half-mile with Carlos Marquez Jr. aboard. She reached the top of the stretch with a half-length lead and kicked clear under urging, stopping the clock for 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in 1:40.03.
“In the paddock, I left it up to the jockey, but we told him that there were a couple of speed horses that scratched,” Servis said. “We told him to ride her however he sees fit, but not to be surprised if he found himself on the lead. I was feeling like she was going to break through, and I was surprised that she was that price. It was her second time on turf and her second time going long, so she had a couple of things working for her.”
Island Time had made her turf debut in the 1 1/16-mile Boiling Springs Stakes (G3) at Monmouth last month, finishing seventh, 4 ¼ lengths behind the victorious Strike It Rich. She had never gone farther than seven furlongs before that race. She made her stakes debut in the $85,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in April, finishing second behind Florida-bred Dances With Ashley.
Island Time returned $33.20, $8 and $4.40. Triple Cream paid $2.60 and $2.10 after finishing 3 ½ lengths ahead of Potosina, who returned $4.40 to show. Ultimate Class and Grecian Maiden were scratched.
Triple Cream was favored after finishing third in the Boiling Springs Stakes.
Servis said Island Time might make her next start in the $100,000 Twin Lights Stakes, a nine-furlong turf race for sophomore fillies at Monmouth Park on Sept. 4.
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Bill Denver Photo
