| Sunday, October 12, 2014 La Tia goes wire-to-wire in G3 Athenia By Jenny Kellner ELMONT, N.Y. - La Tia turned her first trip to New York into a winning one, grabbing the lead right at the start and holding on for a narrow victory in the 37th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia on Sunday at Belmont Park. With Joel Rosario aboard, the 5-year-old Illinois-bred daughter of City Place took command coming out of the gate and strode through fractions of 25.22, 48.83 and 1:12.70 with longshot It's My Time a length behind. Swinging into the stretch with a 2 ½ length advantage as that one began to fade, La Tia came under pressure from Byrama and Overhead a furlong out, but had held on to preserve the victory and hit the wire a neck in front. Her winning time for the 1 1/16 miles over the yielding inner turf was 1:43.36. "I was a little concerned with it having rained here, but she ran well on a good course last time, and when I saw the [other] speed horse [Nashly's Vow] was scratched, I felt better," said Ardmando de la Cerda, who trains La Tia for Salvador Hernandez. The victory was the third in seven starts and first on turf this year for La Tia, who entered the Athenia off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Canadian on September 14 over a "good" turf course at Woodbine. Earlier in the year, the Chicago-based mare won a pair of Grade 3 stakes on synthetic surfaces, taking the Grade 3 Arlington Matron and the Grade 3 Ontario Matron. "They pressured me last time," said Rosario, who rode La Tia for the first time in the Canadian. "The stretch in Woodbine is longer than here, and that day they finished up very strong. She ran a good race and got beat by some very good horses. I was very confident with her today and knew she was going to give me 100 percent." Sent off as the 7-2 second choice in the field of 10, La Tia returned $8.70 for a $2 win bet. The winner's purse of $120,000 enhanced her bankroll to $703,326. Byrama and Overheard were noses apart in second and third, respectively, with Cushion checking in fourth. Even-money favorite Annecdote was fifth, followed by Maximova, Embarr, Baffle Me, It's My Time and Julie's Love. Main track only entrant Teen Pauline was scratched, as was Nashly's Vow. -30- | 
