Cristina's Journey Wins, Breeders' Cup Bound

September 07, 2014

By Frank Angst

Challenged throughout, Cristina's Journey defied all rivals to deliver a front-running victory in the $231,000 Pocahontas Stakes (gr. II) Sept. 6 at Churchill Downs (VIDEO).

The daughter of Any Given Saturday   completed the 1 1/16-mile test for 2-year-old fillies in 1:46.37 to win in her first try at a stakes race, edging Pangburn by a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths. Winning trainer Dale Romans picked up his third Pocahontas win and first since winning back-to-back editions with Sara Louise and Sassy Image in 2008-09.

"She's a very good filly. She was pressed today and she drew off clear and looked good to me," Romans said. "I was hoping for an effort like her last one. I try to stay positive and when (partner) Tammy (Fox) worked her the other day she said she'd improved since her first race. A bunch of fillies were kind of the same. I'm sure everybody liked their filly but you don't know until you line them up and she ran the way we were hoping."

Making her second career start for Tim Newcomer's GSN Racing, Cristina's Journey broke well from post 4 for Miguel Mena and seized the lead and inside position as True to You and 3-2 favorite Take Charge Brandi hustled into the first turn.

Cristina's Journey proved quickest early, while pressed by True to You and Take Charge Brandi through a quarter mile in :24.19, a half mile in :48.63, and six furlongs in 1:13.91. Grade III-placed Take Charge Brandi attempted a three-wide rally in the far turn but she could not get to Cristina's Journey and would fade to fifth in the stretch. Christina's Journey shook clear to lead by 2 1/2 lenths mid-stretch and held on well for Mena.

Pangburn launched an impressive late move to get second by 2 1/2 lengths while 29-1 shot Milehigh Butterfly, who fired a big move in the far turn, held third. Cristina's Journey returned $9 to win, $5.20 to place, and $4 to show. Shortleaf Stable's Pangburn returned $6 and $4.80, while Bernard Schaeffer's Milehigh Butterfly paid $15 to show.

The Pocahontas is the second straight gate-to-wire victory for Cristina's Journey, who in her July 27 debut in a maiden special weight race at Ellis Park completed six furlongs in 1:11.66 for Mena. She successfully stretched out to two turns in the Pocahontas.

Bred in Kentucky by Phil and Judy Needham and Bena Halecky, Cristina's Journey is out of the Dixie Union mare Toss the Feather, who has produced two winners from three starters. Romans, as agent for Frank Jones, went to $37,000 to land Cristina's Journey at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale, where she was consigned by Lantern Hill Farm.

The Pocahontas is the first race in the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, which awards points that are used to determine the field if more than 14 fillies are entered in the 2015 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). Cristina's Journey picked up 10 points with four going to Pangburn, two to Milehigh Butterfly, and one to fourth-place finisher Loom.

Also, the Pocahontas is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). The win ensures Cristina's Journey a spot in the field and Breeders' Cup will pay for starter fees and expenses up to $10,000 if she starts in this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park.

"She's pretty awesome; she wins at Ellis by almost five and then she beat this bunch easy," Mena said. "Like I said, I hit her a couple of times at the eighth pole and I felt her just pick it up right away and she galloped out strong. I think she's great but we'll see how good she is when we go to the Breeders' Cup I guess."

Take Charge Brandi was followed by True to You, Phoenix Park, Frolic to the Wire, Queen's Ready, and Rachel's Ready.