Emphatic Stays Hot With Two-Turn Sorority Stakes Win

Pennsylvania-bred Emphatic (Nyquist), a brilliant debut winner at Colonial Downs July 25, backed that up with authority Saturday in the two-turn Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Quick from the gate despite a wide draw into the short run for the first turn, the 3-2 shot cornered three wide but still hung around in the top flight, sitting third and making steady forward progress past the half-mile pole.

Still three wide and now pressuring for the lead, Emphatic had no issue drawing past pacesetter Witchy Vibes (Epicenter) and hit the stretch with a clear lead, opening up at will for the win.

First-time starter Revenge of the Sis (Girvin), the full-sister to MGISW Dorth Vader, ran on well after missing the break and wound up third while Spectacular Sam (Cyberknife) was second.

“She couldn't have been more impressive,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh. “I thought she had a great trip even though she got hung a little wide early on. But she had a nice smooth trip after that. I liked the way she cruised around there and then picked it up again in the stretch. It looks like she could be a pretty nice filly. She was sharp. She showed speed her first race so I wasn't surprised that she was right up with the early speed. She's shown us plenty from the start.”

“She's a Pennsylvania-bred so we decided to try her in Virginia (at Colonial Downs) first time out instead of Ellis. So we decided to ship her out of state. I think it has proven to be the right thing right now. I think we have to try (graded stakes company next) with a 2-year-old that is 2-for-2 and has done it the way she has. You have to give her a chance. She's a stakes winner now so the pressure is off to an extent. So we'll probably take a graded stakes shot with her. I want to see how she comes back from this since she had to ship again and then I'll talk to the owners and we will make a decision about what is next for her.”

A $260,000 Keeneland September grad, Emphatic is one of four winners from five to race for her unraced Tiznow first dam. Second dam Tap of the Day is a full-sister to GISW and perennial leading sire Tapit (Pulpit). That mare has a yearling colt by Gunite who is her last reported foal.

SORORITY S., $106,000, Monmouth, 8-29, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:36.71, ft.
1–EMPHATIC, 118, f, 2, by Nyquist
            1st Dam: Convinced, by Tiznow
            2nd Dam: Tap of the Day, by Pulpit
            3rd Dam: Tap Your Heels, by Unbridled
($260,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Gainesway
Stable (Antony Beck) and Andrew Rosen; B-Jon A. Marshall
(PA); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Edwin Gonzalez. $60,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $102,000.
2–Spectacular Sam, 116, f, 2, Cyberknife–Hughes Clues,
by Malibu Moon. ($95,000 Ylg '25 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Stone Bridge Farm, Cres Ran LLC and Robert Medina; B-Tony
Holmes, Timothy C. Thornton & Michael Holmes (KY); T-Robert
Medina. $20,000.
3–Revenge of the Sis, 116, f, 2, Girvin–Hardcore Candy,
by Yonaguska. ($500,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-CJ Thoroughbreds and John Ropes; B-John Ropes (KY);
T-George Weaver. $10,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 1HF, 7. Odds: 1.50, 2.50, 7.40.
Also Ran: Witchy Vibes, Intraosseous, I'm With Her, Tiz Candy, No One Else's, Space for Grace. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.