Turfway: Iva captures Cincinnati Trophy

Turfway Park recap:

Feb. 1, 2019 (FLORENCE, Ky.) –  All Iva needed was room to run, and when jockey Julio Garcia found it for her, the filly dug deep through the stretch to score by 1 ¼ lengths in Friday’s $50,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes at Turfway Park. Workaholic was second, half a length ahead of Malibu Party in third. Final time for the 6 ½ furlong race for 3-year-old fillies was 1:18.82.

Iva takes Turfway Park’s Cincinnati Trophy under Julio Garcia. Coady Photography

The win was the third in four starts and the first black type score for the Wesley Ward-trained daughter of Scat Daddy.

“I had to come from behind, but I knew I had the best horse in the race,” said Garcia. “I followed the 14 (Dream Boat Anna) and a couple others and had to wait, but I had plenty of horse. She was the best.”

Dream Boat Anna was out first from the far outside post in the field of 10 and set the pace in :23.06 and :46.27 before giving way to Workaholic, who marked six furlongs in 1:11.85. Breaking from post four, Iva raced inside a couple lengths off the lead until Garcia guided her off the rail leaving the turn. She drew even with Workaholic at the eighth pole and took over with half a furlong to go.

Iva was the bettors’ even-money first choice and paid $4.20, $3.20 and $2.80.

Dream Boat Anna stayed in to finish fourth, followed by Stellar Stiletto, New Roo, Princess Athena, Bivian B, Giro Kate and Market Success. Crafty’s Dream, Fun Finder and Thunderous Gem were scratched by their trainers. Run On Energy did not draw in and was scratched.

Iva was bred by her owner, Alberto Figueiredo’s Bonne Chance Farm, and is out of the Empire Maker mare Sushi Empire. In addition to her three wins, Iva was second in her first stakes attempt, the House Party Stakes at Gulfstream Park in December. The Cincinnati Trophy win increased her earnings to $72,800