In Italian further strengthened her claim as the top older turf mare in North America with a dominating, wire-to-wire victory in the G1 Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park on Friday, 9 June.
The five-year-old Dubawi mare was winning for the second time in two starts this season, after taking the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in her 2023 debut. The Peter Brant color bearer has now notched four G1 victories and has never finished worse than third in 11 career starts.
Away sharply from the inside post, In Italian quickly put two lengths between her and the duo of Wakanaka and Spendarella. New Year’s Eve, who broke a step slow saved ground along the rail in fourth, with In Italian’s stablemate, Speak of the Devil, right off her flank in fifth. In Italian continued to hold her lead into the far turn, then kicked clear at the top of the lane, eventually crossing the wire to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths over Spendarella.
Final time for the eight-furlong turf contest was a sharp 1:34 flat.
Bred in Great Britain by Fairway Thoroughbreds, In Italian is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Florentina, winner of the G3 Gold Coast Guineas and second in the G2 Furious Stakes in Australia. Florentina, a half-sister to G1 WATC Railway Stakes winner, Gathering, is also the dam of G2-placed Villa Carlotta (by Street Cry) and Stakes-placed Fasano (by Lonhro).
Champion Dubawi has now sired 21 Stakes winners in 2023 including leading miler and future Darley stallion Modern Games and fellow top-flight winner Lord North.
