Saratoga is a prestigious equestrian race course with a long history and charm among equestrian enthusiasts. Mike Amendola has fond memories of his childhood visiting the race course with his father. He along with his father has visited numerous tracks where his father’s horses raced but Saratoga had a special place in his heart.

This emotional attachment was witnessed when his own five-year-old mare Evvie Jets defied all odds and managed to win the Grade 2 $300,000 Ballston Spa Stakes and never shied from displaying his happiness. Evvie Jets was ridden to victory by Manny Franco after her jockey Luis Saez got injured at a race on Wednesday.

Evvie Jets won the Graded equestrian race

Trained by Mertkan Kantarmaci the five-year-old mare arrived at the equestrian race after finishing sixth in her last race De La Rose Stakes at the beginning of the month. This year worth $698,680 Evvie Jets has shown a common pattern in the race, she either finishes first or at sixth place in the race.

In, this race she had 29-1 odds and had tough competition with names like Technical Analysis, but this time she showed her strength and potential.

At the start, Sister Bridget paced and took the lead leaving behind Technical Analysis, and crossed the half mile in 48.67 seconds. Evvie Jets who was inside placed fourth place at the initial phase of the race.

After six furlong Technical Analysis took the lead but couldn’t maintain it for long. In the later stage of the race the mid-stretch was crowded with six horses and Evvie Jets took the lead from the rail. The mare overcame the furious competition by Technical Analysis took the charge in the mid-stretch. As the wire approached Fluffy Socks stretched from the middle but was not enough, Evvie Jets won the race by a head and completed the race in 1:43.06. Fluffy Stock came in second place and Jumbly secured the third position.

Speaking on the win the owner Mike Amendola said he was emotional and happy. He said that his family had nice wins at Saratoga but this was the best of them. Manny Franco the jockey had nothing but praise for the mare after her spectacular display. He was elated with the win and said that at a crucial point, the mare responded well to his call. This win adds another feather to the mare’s career with more anticipated to come in the future.

Evvie Jets’s equine career

Evvie Jets is the daughter of Twirling Candy and Natchez Trace. She was bred by Farfellow Farms and started her equestrian racing career in 2020. She had her maiden win in her sixth career race in a $75,000 claiming race at Saratoga in August of 2021.  Evvie Jets has raced at all the major tracks in the country and won at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, and Saratoga.

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She had three more stakes wins apart from the Ballston Spa Stakes, which are Perfect Sting,  Plenty of Grace, and the Noble Damsel Stakes. In her 22 career starts, she had won seven races, placed second in 6, and third in 2. This year in her five starts she had won three races and added $307,150 to her total career earnings to date.

Evvie Jets’s win is a special one for the owner who reminded him of his father’s memories and the jockey who was a replacement for the original rider who got injured earlier. This win shall give the moment to the mare to carry it to future races.

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