BY BROCK SHERIDAN
NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods’ Sabatini circled the field coming out of the far turn then drew off to win the US$110,327 Selene (Grade 3) at Woodbine Saturday—continuing a string of success by Florida-breds in the mile-and-one-sixteenth test on the synthetic main track.
The Selene was the second stakes victory in three starts at Woodbine for Sabatini, who won the CA$128,000 Star Shoot going six furlongs there on April 27.
She was also the third Florida-bred in the last five years to win the Selene, joining Two Sixty in 2020 and Our Flash Drive in 2021. Florida-breds Dark Ending (2001) and Lady Beverly (1998) also won the Selene.
Sabatini is trained by Canadian Hall of Famer Josie Carroll, who snapped a string of six straight wins in the Selene by dual Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse of Ocala, Fla.
Sabatini and jockey Sofia Vives broke sharp from post one then settled along the rail in fourth to follow Waves of Mischief, Red Samura and Golden Ghost (GB) into the clubhouse turn. Down the backstretch, Waves of Mischief raced to a two-length advantage on Red Samurai in second with Sabatini another two-and-a-quarter lengths farther back in third as they finished the first two furlongs in :23.98.
Waves of Mischief continued to show the way through a half-mile in :47.62 as Red Samurai moved to her outside hip into the far turn with Golden Ghost and Sabatini together in third from a length-and-a-half farther back.
Red Samurai and Golden Ghost raced past the quarter-pole heads apart on the lead as Vives took Sabatini into the four path for her run at the frontrunners with Witwatersrand to her outside in fourth.
Sabatini accelerated from her rivals at the top the stretch and was two lengths clear passing the eighth pole with Crevalle d’Oro trying to rally from second and Witwatersrand still third.
Sabatini crossed under the wire two lengths in front of Crevalle d’Oro in a final time of 1:43.07. Witwatersrand was third, followed by Golden Ghost, Shamans Girl, Red Samurai, and Waves of Mischief completed the order of finish. Crevalle d’Oro, Witwatersrand and Golden Ghost are all trained by Casse.
Sabatini was sent to the post with 9-2 odds and paid $11.40 to win.
“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.”
Sabatini finished third in a maiden special weight for fillies at Turfway Park in her first career start in March then dominated the Star Shoot with a two-and-quarter-length victory. She was then second, four lengths behind Witwatersrand in the CA$102,000 Ruling Angel going seven furlongs at Woodbine in her previous race on May 18.
“First couple of works, she wowed us from the start,” Carroll said of Sabatini. “You know, just if you look at her physically, she’s outstanding looking and her turn of foot was unbelievable. Great demeanor, great mind. She’s just got all the parts.”
Sabatini is by Uncle Mo out of Gabriellestoblame, by Blame and was bred in Florida by Bridlewood Farm. Sabatini is the only stakes winner for Gabriellestoblame, who has two winners from two starters. Gabriellestoblame has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo and a weanling colt by Violence.
Sabatini has now earned $138,376 from four career starts with two wins and a second.
