While it would be her third stakes victory and second Graded title of her career, the four year old gray filly out of Cherokee Desire seems poised to making 2020 her stellar season.
- The Suwannee River ( Gr. III ) – Purse $150.000
- Gulfstream Park- For Fillies and Mares, Four Years old and Up
- One Mile and One Eighth in distance- Turf Track
“ I’m happy.” Trainer Aer Stables said with a broad smile following the victory here. “ The mare is by far my best and one of the best producers in the game. For a stable my size and owning the foal, it’s impressive. Impressive indeed, as other then her opening race at Lone Star, this filly has a record of 16 ( 4-3-5-4), gaining some kind of share in every race. While the victory in last season’s Noble Damsel Handicap was slightly more impressive as she put away the likes of Scam and Illustrious Cat as she did once again here, she is showing that the maturity is continuing to make her a force to be challenged. Will be interesting to see if she attacks the Hillsborough next month, or works to put in her best efforts in the Gr. I Wiley come March.
Looking for redemption on the day after placing sixth in the Noble Damsel, Illustrious Cat was hoping that by using her upfront running style that won her the Cardinal Hdcp. title last season, that the outcome would be slightly different here. She did try to keep a more moderate pace this time so as not to tire late, but the eventual winner had just a bit more in the end. She would have to settle for the runner-up position while holding off a late charge in a photo with post time favorite Maggie Greene.
Maggie Greene may have wanted to stay a little bit closer then she was set out to do in the early fractions, and maybe if rider Zayas would have let her go a bit sooner, this would have been a different outcome. It is just her first of the season, so watch for a bolder effort next time by.
The final share of purse money was snatched up by William9’s Sketch The Way who also enjoys putting in a late charge to the wire down the stretch, and she narrowly beat out Twinny and Scam in a threeway photo.
| Race #3 12:40 The Suwannee River – Grade III 1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $150.00 Filly & Mare 4 Year Olds And Up. |
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | ||
| 5 | Low Key Desires | Aer Stables | Juarez N | 3.30 | 11 | 1:46.15 | — | ||
| 1 | Illustrious Cat | Chili King Stables | Castellano J J | 5.70 | 2no | 1:46.43 | — | ||
| 7 | Maggie Greene | The Sidley Stud | Zayas E J | 1.85 | 33/4 | 1:46.44 | — | ||
| 4 | Sketch The Way | Williams9 | Ortiz J L | 5.55 | 4no | 1:46.61 | — | ||
| 2 | Twinny | Maxmillion Farm | Jaramillo E | 9.50 | 53/4 | 1:46.62 | — | ||
| 3 | Scam | Nakamura Stables | Saez L | 13.85 | 53/4 | 1:46.62 | — | ||
| 9 | Tinas Flag | Rock Creek | Nunez E O | 584.90 | 71 | 1:46.77 | — | ||
| 6 | Blue Jeans | First Class Stable | Bravo J | 15.80 | 83 | 1:47.11 | — | ||
| 8 | City Never Sleeps | Fractious | Rendon J | 12.55 | 9 | 1:47.77 | — |
Track: Firm
Time: :48 1:111 1:342 1:46
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 5 – Low Key Desires | 8.60 | 4.00 | 2.50 |
| 1 – Illustrious Cat | 5.20 | 2.80 | |
| 7 – Maggie Greene | 2.30 |
$1 Exacta: 5 – 1 Paid 25.90
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 1 – 7 Paid 50.70
Scratched: None
Duffer
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
