Today's the day for Why Not Tonight * The Racing Biz

Today’s the day for Why Not Tonight

Frank Vespe
June 19, 2022

One race after an absolutely disastrous trip left her a hard-trying fourth, Why Not Tonight parlayed a perfect trip into victory in the $75,000 All Brandy Stakes for Maryland-bred fillies and mares.

Under new pilot Angel Cruz, Why Not Tonight was the nearest pursuer to breakaway early leader Can the Queen. That runner, fresh off an upset triumph in the five-furlong The Very One at Preakness, set down fractions of 47.40 for the opening half-mlie and 1:11.85 for three quarters.

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Can the Queen, carefully nursed along by jockey Tais Lyapustina, repelled a bid from Why Not Tonight nearing the quarter pole and moved clear once again in the lane. But Why Not Tonight kept coming and finally wore that rival down to win by a half-length. Can the Queen held second, and Coconut Cake finished third.

Running time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.30.

Why Not Tonight paid $16.00 to win and topped an exacta that returned $73.10 for a one-dollar wager.

A four-year-old filly by Tapiture, Why Not Tonight was bred in Maryland by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes. She now has four wins from 11 career starts, with earnings of $114,457.

The victory was the first stakes win for the horse, trainer Jesus Cruz, and owner Wasabi Ventures Stables, LLC. The current connections obtained Why Not Tonight for $16,000 via the claimbox last September.

QUOTABLE

We liked her. She came, you know, to our barn in really good order. We really liked her a lot. And we actually just didn’t get to get her in until we got down to Tampa, and she ran a monster race for us first time….
[Owner TK Kuegler] and I both started here in Maryland. So it was it was the right race to win for the right owners. And for it to be a Maryland-bred stake for us is huge.
Trainer Jesus Cruz