| Circle 8 Ranch celebrated its first black-type runner yesterday on Gulfstream Park West’s Millions Preview program when the ‘beautiful’ filly Yafa (the Jewish name for “beautiful”) finished an excellent second in the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes. After breaking her maiden for trainer Michelle Nihei in her previous start on September 18 – a turf-stunner win by 8 lengths – the 2-year-old daughter of Handsome Mike and out of Circle 8 Ranch broodmare Red Baroness (Smarty Jones) was sent off at odds of 4-1 with jockey Victor Lebron in the one-mile race on the grass. Lebron settled her comfortably in third place, off the rail, heading down the backstretch and when he asked her to run coming to the final turn, Yafa ranged up on the outside and forged into the lead as they straightened out at the top of the stretch. Yafa gamely held off several challenges down the stretch, but that took its toll and she was unable to hold off fast-closing Inthewinnerscircle nearing the wire. The runner-up finish was worth $11,400 for Circle 8 and raised Yafa’s total to $48,350 after just four races. Yafa’s full sister is in training in Ocala, and Aizu, her Florida-bred, 3-year-old half-sister by Japan, has posted three seconds and three thirds in her last six starts for Circle 8 and put $41,721 in the bank. Strategically located in Kentucky, Circle 8 Ranch is recognized by the Kentucky Horse Commission as an official Training Center to record official timed workouts. Circle 8 Ranch features three barns with a total of 36 stalls, several tack rooms, wash stalls, and office. The yearling barn has eight 15-by-15-foot stalls, and there are 14 fenced paddocks, six large grazing fields, a 5/8ths-mile turf track, and a 5/8ths mile uphill woodchip gallop track. Circle 8 Ranch is in an ideal position to prepare partnership horses for racing at a variety of venues. For more information about partnerships and investments available at Tropical Racing and Circle 8 Ranch, visit our websites: www.TropicalRacing.com and www.CircleEightRanch.com or email info@TropicalRacing.com. Contact Troy Levy at 561-513-8767. |
Yafa finishes an excellent second in the $60,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes giving Circle 8 Ranch it’s FIRST STAKES-PLACED RUNNER!
