For Immediate Release: Saturday, May 23, 2015 215.639.9000 ext. 3290 or 3329 Contact: Keith Jones, Announcer – Philadelphia Park @ kjones@parxracing.com
DONITA’S RULER UPSETS IN MY JULIET First Stakes Win for Trainer Blane Servis
Less than a month ago, young trainer Blane Servis went to the claim box with a slip to claim a filly named Donita’s Ruler for owners Robert O’Hara and Gwyneth Gower. The Roman Ruler filly ran second that day for a $25,000 claiming tag and today at Parx, made the first start for her new barn. And what a start it turned out to be. The second longest price in the six horse field at 18-1, she jumped out of the gate on top and went wire to wire to win the $75,000 My Juliet Stakes, a six furlong sprint for fillies and mares three and up. It was not only her first stakes win, but also the first for Blane Servis, who just happens to be the son of John Servis, trainer of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.
Despite the 18-1 price, the win was decisive and convincing. Under Jorge Vargas, Jr., Donita’s Ruler broke sharply and was immediately in front. Through the opening furlong she got some outside pressure from the other longshot in the race, Sweet Abandon (24-1). Just past the half mile pole, Disco Chick and Tea Time both tried to challenge from the inside, but as the race moved to the far turn, they both fell back, as Sweet Abandon was now struggling to keep pace with the leader who’d made the first quarter in 22.68. Midway on the far turn, Donita’s Ruler has finally edged to a clear lead, hitting the quarter pole in front by almost two after a half in 46.29, but the danger loomed as the two favorites, Tea Time (2-1) and Galiana (1-1) were both trying to get their late runs in gear, Galiana in the middle of the track, Tea Time down on the inside.
They would prove to be no danger at all. Donita’s Ruler had increased her lead to three as she came to the final furlong and was in front by almost five as she hit the sixteenth pole. Galiana would make a belated run for second while Tea Time finished a non-threatening third. It was the 7th win in 16 career starts for Donita’s Ruler and pushed her lifetime earnings to just over $207,000. The 18-1 price would return mutuels of 38.00, 9.20 and 4.80. The race favorite Galiana paid 2.80 and 2.10 for second while Tea Time returned 2.60 to show. The final time for the six furlongs was 1:12.70.
