A Great Time Springs Surprise in The Very One

BALTIMORE, MD – Larry Johnson homebred A Great Time surged late down the middle of the track to spring the surprising score in Thursday’s $100,000 The Very One Stakes at Pimlico.

A Great Time was the 10/1 fifth choice in the field of 12 fillies and mares as she broke from post 3 under Julian Pimentel and sat near the rear of the field for the early going.

Giggling posted opening fractions of :22.24 and :47.30 before yielding in mid-stretch. Wild About Star inherited the lead but weakened at the 1/16 pole, allowing Mr. Al’s Gal to slip by along the rail.

Moments after Mr. Al’s Gal took the lead, a rallying A Great Time swept past and crossed a length clear. The Mike Trombetta trainee completed the 5-furlong sprint over the yielding turf in 1:00.14.

“Julian does a great job,” Trombetta said. “It was totally left up to him and, honestly, I was doubting his tactics going down the backside. I was like, ‘Oh, geez, this is going to be tough,’ but that’s why he does what he does.”

Mr. Al’s Gal was 3/4 of a length ahead of Ode to Joy, who rallied to take third by a length over Wild About Star. Another 2 1/4 lengths back, Dendrobia necked out the 4/5 favorite Jo Jo Air for fifth. 

Peaceful, Not in Jeopardy, Hear My Prayer, Giggling, Captain Sam, and Foolish Humor completed the order of finish.

Chalon, Philipine Cobra, Tracy Ann’s Legacy, and Never Enough Time (a Main Track Only entry) were scratched.

A Great Time’s win was her first at the stakes level and improved her overall record to 19-4-5-3. The Maryland-bred 6-year-old Street Magician mare has now earned $223,512.

“We didn’t know she would handle it this well,” Trombetta said. “This is huge, because she was multiple stakes placed, but to make her a stakes winner is important. It came at the right time.”

A Great Time returned $23.40 to win, $11.80 to place, and $7 to show. Mr. Al’s Gal brought back $28.40 to place and $12.20 to show, while Ode to Joy paid $6 to show.