OZONE PARK, N.Y. – My Shea D Lady rode the rail to get to the lead in midstretch, then, despite drifting out some in the final furlong, went on to win Saturday’s $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series for 2-year-old fillies by 2 1/2 lengths at Aqueduct. Walk With Me, who encountered trouble at the half-mile pole, rallied down the center of the track under Dylan Davis to finish second by three-quarters of a length over Elite Status. My Shea D Lady did have to withstand an objection from Rudy Rodriguez, the trainer of fourth-place finisher Sun and Wind. That objection was dismissed by the stewards. My Shea D Lady was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, who put the cap on a sensational year with his 28th stakes victory. The win pushed the four-time Eclipse Award-winning rider’s yearly earnings to more than $19.2 million, his best year since 2019. This year, Castellano won his first Kentucky Derby aboard Mage and first Belmont Stakes on Arcangelo. “I don’t have the words to describe what kind of year I had, it’s one of the best years of my career,” Castellano said. Breaking from post 2 in the field of 12 on Saturday, My Shea D Lady had to sit along the rail while Sun and Wind and Soloshot dueled through a half-mile in 46.91 seconds. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Though Castellano said his filly was intimidated being along the rail, she found the resolve to push her way through and was clear of the competition when she began to drift out. “She was intimidated a little bit behind the horses, sitting on the rail. It got really tight, she didn’t want to go, but as soon as she got through, she took off,” Castellano said. “She started getting tired a little bit at the end. . . . I didn’t bother anybody in the race.” My Shea D Lady, favored by $181, over Soloshot, covered the seven furlongs in 1:25.91 and returned $7.50. My Shea D Lady, a daughter of Solomini owned by Shea D Boyz Stable, won her debut at Gulfstream against open company before finishing third and fourth twice in a trio of New York-bred stakes. Trainer Carlos David said this race, being restricted to progeny of New York-based stallions, “was more like an allowance race with a bigger purse.” David said given the inside draw, he instructed Castellano to be a little more aggressive. David said he told Castellano “don’t feel like you have to be on the lead, but try not get in trouble and be a little aggressive, put her in the race and it worked out.” David said he would likely give My Shea D Lady a break for the winter and prepare her for the spring. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.