Vina Arana (IRE) Earns First Graded Stakes Badge in Nassau
Vina Arana (IRE), under a patient ride from Adam Beschizza, rocketed away from her rivals down the lane to win the 1-mile, $200,000 Nassau (G2T) Stakes for fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, Sunday afternoon at Woodbine.
Making her first appearance on the Woodbine inner turf, Vina Arana (IRE) sat last of six in the early going as Quadruple (GB) broke alertly and took the early lead, followed by Equitas and 7-5 mutuel choice Sultana into the first turn.
Quadruple (GB) held a two-length lead over Equitas through an opening quarter in :22.82 and held that same advantage after a half in :46.55. Beschizza and Vina Arana (IRE) remained sixth but were then on the move ahead of the turn for home, gliding up on the outside of the pacesetters and looming a major threat.
Vina Arana (IRE), making her fourth start of the campaign, took over the proceedings strides before straightening for the stretch drive and then powered away from her rivals with ease. Ahead by 3 ½ lengths at the stretch call, the five-year-old bay mare crossed the wire four lengths clear of Equitas. Sultana was third, followed by Bessie Abott (IRE). Salty Senorita was scratched.
The final time over firm ground was 1:35.40.
It was the first graded stakes triumph for the bay, who is trained by Jack Sisterson for Sterling Stables LLC and MHM Stables LLC. She arrived at the Nassau off a third in the Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) on May 30.
“She has a good handful of ability, and you know she deserves to win a race like this because she’s more than capable,” said Beschizza. “I think the sky’s the limit.”
Added Sisterson, “You see an impressive performance this afternoon, which we thought she was well capable of. We always thought she had a performance like this in her, and Adam rode a great race.”
Bred by Funcheon Bloodstock Ltd, the daughter of Make Believe (GB) out of the Teofilo (IRE) mare Sunset Dazzle (IRE) is now 3-0-3 from 12 starts.
A €30,000 purchase at the 2022 Goffs Sportsman’s Yearling Sale, she paid $6.20 for the Nassau victory.
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G T Five Hundred Scores Connaught Upset
G T Five Hundred relaxed perfectly with blinkers off to score a 31-1 win in Sunday’s $175,000 Grade 2 bet365 Connaught Cup at Woodbine and cap a memorable day for rising training star Dale Desruisseaux.
Ridden for the second straight race by jockey Jose Campos, G T Five Hundred broke sharply from post position 5, settling in 2nd, as recent Eclipse Stakes winner Maycocks Bay seized early command through an opening quarter mile in :23.46.
G T Five Hundred and jockey Jose Campos winning the bet365 Connaught Cup (G2) on July 19, 2026 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo)
In the 7 1/2-furlong inner turf sprint for three-year-olds and up, Maycocks Bay was again loose on the lead, like he had been in the main track two-turn Eclipse, through an opening half mile in a rapid :46.20. Into the far turn, Piper’s Factor joined the fray, outside of G T Five Hundred, who efficiently saved ground as the field of 8 negotiated the bend.
The Godolphin owned/bred Maycocks Bay, ridden by Sofia Vives, turned for home with the lead, through an opening 6 furlongs in 1:09.76, but G T Five Hundred emerged in the 2-path to challenge and under confident handling by Campos, went on to prevail by a hard fought 1/2 length over wide rallying shipper Irish Aces. The final running time was 1:28.64.
Previously trained by Michael Maker, G T Five Hundred (winless in 5 prior starts on turf) was making his 4th start under the tutelage of Desruisseaux, who earlier on the card, captured the Plate Trial Stakes with Highwaytothemoon.
“I just took the blinkers off him today. He’s worn blinkers every race of his life,” said Desruisseaux.
“I didn’t know if it was going to be a mistake or not, but I mean, it worked out. So, you know, I just wanted to get him a little relaxed. We learned a lot about him the second start that he doesn’t want to be rated, and I think the longer distance allows him to just to be freewheeling and you know use what his attributes are.”
Entering the Connaught Cup, G T Five Hundred was the most experienced runner in the field with 43 lifetime starts. The six-year-old bay son of Astern (AUS) won his Woodbine debut, taking the 5 1/2-furlong Thorncliffe Stakes by a neck with Rafael Hernandez up. Next, he finished 6th in the Grade-3 Jacques Cartier, before joining forces with Campos, who guided him to a 3rd place finish in the Grade-2 Highlander Stakes on the local inner turf. The highly touted mare Miss Vyvyanne defeated males in that race, but G T Five Hundred galloped out impressively alongside the winner.
“All they told me about the race is just try to stay behind the behind the speed. I never fought with the horse. I put it in a good position when I was asking to run my horse. He gave me everything he had on the line,” said Campos.
Bred in Kentucky by Joe B. Mulholland Jr., John P. Mulholland & Karen Mulholland, G T Five Hundred improved to 11-6-7 from 44 lifetime starts, while breaking his turf maiden for owner Centennial Farms Inc, who also own Plate Trial winner Highwaytothemoon.
Following the Connaught, the rider of Piper’s Factor launched an objection against the winner for interference, but no action was taken by the stewards.
G T Five Hundred opened at 15-1 on the morning line, floated up to 31-1 at post time and rewarded his backers with a tidy $64.20 return on a $2 win ticket.
Irish Aces closed to finish 2nd, Maycocks Bay held 3rd and Piper’s Factor finished 4th.
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