In the $125,000 Via Borghese stakes held Wednesday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida, No-Show Sammy Joe, owned by Newstead Stables LLC, surged ahead with a three-length lead near the final turn to secure a five and three-quarter length victory for jockey Jorge Luis. Previously finishing second in the Long Island Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, No-Show Sammy Joe, a 5-year-old daughter of Lope de Vega trained by Graham Motion, completed the 1 3/8-mile turf race in 2:11.10, marking her sixth win in 13 grass starts.
The day started and ended successfully for Motion, who also saddled the winner of the opening race, Brat Pack, a 2-year-old filly by Gun Runner. Motion remarked on No-Show Sammy Joe’s steady improvement this year, noting her unlucky circumstances in previous races and praising jockey Jorge Luis, who has been nearly undefeated when riding her. Plans are in place to keep her at Gulfstream Park for the Pegasus Day long-distance race, as the mare has shown strong performances over similar distances.
Louise Procter initially set the pace, followed closely by Chad Brown’s mare Venencia with split times of 23.88 seconds, 47.46 seconds, and 1 minute 11.43 seconds. Nearing the final turn, jockey Lewis skillfully guided No-Show Sammy Joe from last place to overtake the field, gaining speed down the stretch. Gallant Greta finished second, while the favored La Mehana, winner of Saratoga’s Glens Falls (G2) that summer, took third place.
Fan Take: No-Show Sammy Joe’s commanding victory highlights the rising talent of turf stayers in the sport, promising an exciting future for long-distance races. Her consistent performances and strong partnerships remind fans that perseverance and strategic training can unearth true champions in horse racing.
