The RT Racing stable celebrated its first stakes victory with Just Catherine, who claimed the $135,000 Interborough Race at Aqueduct Racecourse on Friday. This Grade 2-placed filly triumphed in the final leg of the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares aged four and up.
Meanwhile, six-year-old Justify Bay, ridden by Sahin Shivashi, ended a long drought by capturing his first black-type win in the one-mile Listed Go for Wand on his tenth outing back from a lengthy break.
Al Jimenez, assistant to trainer Jose Jimenez, expressed amazement at Just Catherine’s success, noting the patience required to bring her back after more than a year off. “We had to take our time and trust her—it’s incredible,” he said.
The race dynamics shifted early when overwhelming favorite Lucille Ball, expected to set the pace, stumbled and wasn’t herself afterward. Just Catherine and Stonewall Star broke from the inside posts, initially trailing the leaders. Stonewall Star quickly took command, setting a fast pace, with Our Day Dreaming Girl close behind.
Sahin Shivashi confidently guided Just Catherine along the rail, overtaking competitors and eventually outpacing Stonewall Star in the stretch to finish strong with a time of 1:24.28. This marked Shivashi’s second local stakes win, adding to last year’s Runaway victory.
Trainer Jimenez credited Shivashi’s expert ride, highlighting how he kept Just Catherine poised for her best performance. Our Day Dreaming Girl finished third, four lengths behind the winner, while the previously unbeaten Lucille Ball ended the race fourth, despite posting the top Beyer Speed Figure of 103.
Stonewall Star’s jockey, Jaime Rodriguez, was pleased with the mare’s effort, especially given the strong early pace and the pressure from Just Catherine late in the race.
Just Catherine, who had a strong four-year-old campaign including a runner-up finish in the G2 Bed O’ Roses and a September victory, returned to racing after over a year’s hiatus and is now a half-sister to Dream It Is, the 2017 G3 Schuylerville winner. Bred in Kentucky by Boyd Brooks, Lewis Brooks Racing Limited Partnership, and Hugh Owen, Just Catherine has a record of 17-5-3 in 24 starts, earning $74,250 from this win and paying $16.76 on a $2 wager.
Originally scheduled for January 24, the Interborough was postponed due to severe cold weather, which also led to the cancellation of racing over the weekend at Aqueduct. Live racing will resume Wednesday with a nine-race card starting at 12:40 p.m. ET.
Fans can follow the Aqueduct Winter Games live on FOX Sports, and bet on races nationwide through NYRA Bets, the official wagering platform, available on iOS and Android.
This article first appeared in the Paulick Report on February 6, 2026.
Fan Take: This thrilling win by Just Catherine highlights the value of patience and expert training in bringing a talented horse back to peak form, offering inspiring narratives for fans. It also shows how competitive and unpredictable sprint races at Aqueduct can be, adding excitement and depth to the sport’s developing talent pool.
