Making her debut in the two-year-old maiden race listed as the Sunnyside Stakes at five furlongs, Social Aviator delivered a thrilling late surge inside the final furlong, with Tevin Foster in the saddle, decisively catching and surpassing her rivals.
Trained by Jason DaCosta, Social Aviator crossed the finish line a length and a half ahead of fellow first-time starters Margarita (Dane Dawkins) and Lady Babita (Reyan Lewis).
“I am happy with the performance,” DaCosta remarked. “She got a rough start, but she was very professional. She weaved her way through horses and came forward for the win, and I was very happy with the performance. As a two-year-old, normally, when they get a rough start like that, they don’t recover,” he explained. “But I’m happy that she overcame it and ran on strongly. I think she has a bright future ahead of her,” DaCosta stated in his post-race interview.
When the starter pushed the button, Social Aviator, ridden by Tevin Foster, lagged behind the early pace, with Margarita taking the lead ahead of Riley J (Calvin Bailey), Linguist (Omar Walker), and Giant Vigorous (Rudolph Paige). As the field approached the half-mile turn, Margarita maintained her advantage, while Social Aviator appeared out of contention, seemingly a beaten horse.
However, sensing an opportunity, Foster waited patiently for the perfect moment to strike. As Margarita attempted to break away from the pack, Foster coaxed Social Aviator into action. The filly responded by increasing her gallop.
Owned by Test Pilots and groomed by Vaughn Taylor, Social Aviator is bred by Bold Conquest out of the Seeking The Glory mare Classy Aviator.
