CJS Press Box

Who would spend Valentine’s Day with horses?

At Aqueduct Racetrack, three stakes races – each worth $135,000 – drew fans, gamblers, owners and jockeys all into their own races for a share of the winnings on Feb. 14. The sunny yet chilly February air steered much of the crowd indoors, toward the lobby beside the sportsbook and away from the grandstand, where rows of benches faced a wall of mounted TVs.

Hundreds of eyes were fixed on one of the screens that was airing the $20-million Saudi Cup. The room fell into a hush as the gate opened, then gradually came the roar halfway past. Whoops, claps and high-fives echoed through the hall as the favorite, Forever Young from Japan, crossed the finish line first to repeat its victory in the nine-furlong dirt.

Would it also happen at Aqueduct, in the seven-furlong dirt long-sprint for New York-bred three-year-old fillies, that the favorite Galinda of Waterville Lake Stables would become a repeat winner at the 87th East View Stakes?

As the clock turned to 12:50 p.m., the second race of the day unveiled as six horses lining up for the $135,000 purse. Precisely at 12:52 p.m., the gate flew open for the stride, and Galinda immediately seized the lead within two seconds, stretching her stride to hold a three-quarter-length advantage over Victory Hall.

A quarter mile in, Galinda maintained her lead, continuing into the half-mile post: 47.38 seconds recorded.

Rounding the far turn approaching the last quarter-mile, Galinda kept her pace to extend the advantage as she powered into the homestretch. “It’s Galinda quickly up by four, five widening length, make it six, approaching the final furlong,” the announcer said, his voice rising by decibels with each count.

Galinda took home the purse for the second time, keeping her record perfect with complete dominance on the track – now two wins in two starts at Aqueduct Racetrack, both under rider Jamie Rodriguez.

“She’s little, but she got a big heart,” said Rodriguez in the interview after the East View win. “The first time I went on [the] road, I was so confident with her. Like, [I’ve known] her for a long time.”

Rodriguez recalled how composed Galinda was at the gate while other fillies bounced around. Once the race began, she shifted immediately into focus, keeping her own rhythm even when a horse pressed up alongside her. He felt her signal for more and didn’t hold her back. “If you wanna go, go ahead,” he said. “And I let her roll.” From there, she opened up again, widening her lead until the finish line.

The 1:24.97 on the course may best showcase the chemistry between the rising star Galinda and jockey Rodriguez, who had returned to New York after more than a decade for another shot at racing glory. But behind her perfect two-for-two record was another familiar name: Michael Clement, Galinda’s trainer, who helped build the connection that made the win possible.

“She was well-prepared at Payson Park [Training Center in Florida], and we just kept her well-being and her happiness level up in New York,” said Clement. “We had been plagued by [the] weather a few times, but she didn’t miss her training whatsoever. She’s a pro, and a very talented filly.

For Rodriguez, between the two humans working with Galinda, it came down to one word: “teamwork.”

Clement agreed, “Jaime [Rodriguez] looked like he had his hands full, and it was just a question of when he wanted to make his move – and how much he wanted to win by.” There was never any doubt about the outcome, given the dominance they displayed on the course.

Watching from the rail, the owner could see it all come together in Galinda’s effortless win – a moment that felt just as smooth and satisfying to him. “It was fantastic,” Tim Tully, partner in Waterville Lake Stables and owner of Galinda, said with a laugh. “I said to the jockey he didn’t have to do very much; she just took off and never looked back.”

On a day often reserved for chocolate and roses, happiness came in the form of a filly with perfect pace and presence of mind, shared among the team who had worked and trained her every step to victory.

With the win, the jockey, the trainer and the owner each add a cut into their earnings and another win into their personal record – a tangible reward beyond emotions. Sitting in third in the Aqueduct Meet Leader chart, Rodriguez could be a step closer to his career goal: the Kentucky Derby.

For this win, he’d wait to celebrate once he got home on Sunday, taking his weekend equivalent of Monday through Wednesday to unwind, before Thursday, when a new rotation of horses and races would await with the potential for another victory like Galinda’s. Yet today, he said he might celebrate a little early with his wife and kids over the phone – a small Valentine’s Day moment before seeing them in person.

The duo will return on March 7 for the Maddie May Stakes, their partnership proven and ready for another test to show its strength, with $135,000 on the line.

*This story was originally reported following the East View Stakes Race on Feb. 14.