It’s a damp and chilly fall day in New Jersey and Christina Takter is planning to go out shopping for a new winter blanket for the two-year-old filly Costa Rica that she co-owns with brothers John and Jim Fielding
. She will look for something that will keep Costa Rica nice and toasty during the cold winter season ahead.
“Only the best is good enough for that girl. I wish Burberry would make horse blankets,” said Takter.
Costa Rica earned it by being the richest 2-year-old that Takter’s husband, Jimmy, has ever trained. Costa Rica has banked $910,455 so far and is the favourite in the $157,800 Matron Stakes final on Saturday at Dover Downs in Delaware.
The Fieldings and Takters own many horses together and they like to come up with new names for the yearlings; names that have a personal touch.
“I called John to discuss name changes, but he couldn’t be reached, so I had to come up with the names myself,” Christina Takter said. “I got stuck on the filly Pass The Muscle and was about to give up. Then I thought of John again, who was away to Costa Rica. That was it, I named her Costa Rica.”
Takter and Fielding bought their filly in Harrisburg for $23,000.
“That was a steal,” said Jimmy Takter who had inspected the filly at Perretti Farms prior to the sale. “She had a nice conformation and her grand dam is Expressway Hanover.”
Expressway Hanover made more than $300,000, won the 1993 Breeders Crown at 3 and held a world record for nine years. As a broodmare, she has produced Rotation, a winner of $1.2 million. Crossing that kind of blood with Muscles Yankee turned out to be a successful recipe.
As Costa Rica was training down this spring, Jimmy Takter was happy with her, but not overly impressed.
“She did what she had to do, but no more,” said Christina Takter. “It wasn’t until she started racing that she showed her determination. She has heart.”
Costa Rica has won nine times in 15 starts. Her victories include the Goldsmith Maid final, the Peaceful Way elim and final, Merrie Annabelle elim (second in the final), two New Jersey Sire Stakes and both finals at the Meadowlands and Freehold.
“She got sick when she was in Lexington and even though she bounced back and raced in the Breeders Crown up at Woodbine, she just wasn’t at her top,” Christina Takter said. “We weren’t sure we would race her anymore this year, but as soon as she got back to New Jersey and got to spend some time outdoors in her paddock she got so fresh that Jimmy decided to go another training mile with her. She felt really good, so we put her in the Matron.”
Costa Rica won the Matron preview of seven horses and that same field is now returning to the final. When the horses go behind the gate, Takter will be very anxious.
“I’m always nervous when we race, because I don’t want anything bad to happen and the eliminations are the worst for me,” she said. “If you’re in the final and get beat by a better horse, it’s OK. I just want to get a fair shot.”
The Matron Stakes will be Costa Rica’s last appearance on the racetrack this season.
$157,800 Matron Stakes – 2FT
1. Nannina
2. Jettalady
3. Glide By
4. Spicy Wings
5. Offbroadway De Vie
6. True Advantage
7. Costa Rica
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This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S.
Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com. *