Here to Win outkicks Keertana in The Very One

Here to Win was subsequently imported to the United States. She showed little

in her debut for McLaughlin when eighth in the October 22 Lady Baltimore at

Laurel, but flashed a glimmer of her old self with a troubled third in a January

13 allowance/optional claimer at Gulfstream. She was stepping up in trip to 1

3/8 grassy miles in The Very One, but had South African form over even longer,

with a second in the Group 2 Gold Circle Oaks and a fourth in the Group 2 South

African Oaks.

Bravo settled Here to Win well off the pace established by Good Karma through

fractions of :24 2/5 and :48 1/5 on the firm turf. Casablanca Smile, who had

been stalking in second, ratcheted up the pressure and drew alongside the leader

after six furlongs in 1:14. At the same time, Here to Win was anchored at the

rear, six lengths adrift of the pacesetters. 

As Casablanca Smile and Good Karma slugged it out on the final turn and

reached a mile in 1:38 1/5, Keertana advanced from her position in midpack. Here

to Win was also on the move, but had to steady behind Keertana. The defending

champion was drafting just behind the leaders swinging into the stretch, and

appeared poised to strike.

But just as Keertana unleashed her trademark turn of foot on the outside,

Here to Win was accelerating through her golden seam on the rail. Here to Win

put her head in front at the eighth-pole in 2:02, and finding a superior change

of gear, pulled clear in a final time of 2:13 1/5. In addition to sparking

mutuels of $24.40, $9 and $7.40, Here to Win improved her career record to

16-5-2-3, $232,010.

"I was really confident going into this race with this filly," Bravo said. "I

rode her twice before. It's a shame the filly don't handle the soft turf because

she would have won the first time I rode her. She was the best horse. Today I

was very confident after being able to sit on her a couple times. I knew there

were some really good horses in the race, but I knew she would be giving that

kick." 

"It's a pleasant surprise for her to beat a field like this," McLaughlin

said, "but she was a Grade 1 winner in South Africa and we knew she had some

quality. Her first race over here was on a yielding course at Laurel that she

just didn't handle. But her second race here in the allowance race was good.

"Joe (Bravo) gave her a great ride today…never left the fence. Last time she

was 10-wide. It's a shame the owners weren't here to enjoy this. They're from

Norway and came for her first two races. If everything is OK, we'll probably

bring her back in the Orchid (Grade 3 on March 31)."  

Another 4 1/2 lengths back in third came Woodford Belle, a 53-1 shot, who

edged Casablanca Smile by a nose. Clarinet, Hasay, Good Karma, Perfect Shirl,

Middle Club, Aquitaine and Full Moon Party rounded out the order of finish.

Shimmering Moment and Font were scratched, and Dash Dot Dash was entered on a

main-track-only basis.

Roger Attfield, trainer of Perfect Shirl, commented that she was short on

fitness after a less than ideal preparation.

"She just got tired," Attfield said. "She probably needed the race, which is

what I thought was going on. She's had a bit of a disruptive winter, but she

should move forward off this race."

Sired by Roi Normand, Here to Win is a three-quarter sister to Brazilian

Group 3 queen Hold Me Tight, runner-up in the Group 1 Gran Premio Diana in 2009.

Here to Win was produced by multiple Brazilian stakes victress Ascot Belle, who

comes from the family of Grade 2 hero Exclusive Partner.