Having won 10 of 16 starts, multiple stakes and almost a million in earnings last year at two, many eyes have been watching how three-year-old trotting filly Costa Rica has been coming back this season
. After her third-place finish in her $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final at the Meadowlands Racetrack on June 12, trainer Jimmy Takter offered comments on the star filly.
Takter's comments came during a trackside interview with Meadowlands' famed statistician Bob 'Hollywood' Heyden. Costa Rica had trotted home well with a :28.3 final quarter after being mid-pack on the outside heading into the lane. Her third-place finis in the NJSS final was clocked in 1:54.4
The filly had started her 2010 campaign with four qualifying miles over the 'Big M,' the fastest of which was a neck victory in 1:58. Prior to her effort in the NJSS final, Costa Rica had closed from off the tempo in her NJSS elim -- which was her seasonal pari-mutuel debut -- to post a one and a half-length victory in 1:56.4.
During Heyden's interview with Takter, when asked about Costa Rica this year, the trainer explained that the filly has had to overcome at least one issue so far this season.
"I was very happy with her (in the NJSS final)," Takter said. "She had a little problem; she had an entrapment (an entrapped epiglottis). She had surgery between the elimination and the final, so she lost a lot of training."
Takter conveyed that he was pleased with Costa Rica after her effort in the NJSS final, and expressed that he is proud of what she has been able to do in the track to this point in her career.
"She came back and finished good in the stretch, as she did, so I was very proud. She's made a million dollars in her career and I am very proud of her."