Surfer Girl Stakes- $100.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies Two Years Old
One Mile on the Turf
October 10, 2015

Pretty Little Pirate came into the Surfer Girl as a filly who had gotten off to a pretty good start to her career, but never had run into the type of company that she would meet today.  She didn’t have time to introduce herself to those who may have accomplished more in their careers as she charged by most of them in the stretch and won this race by an HRP-rout of four lengths.   This of course will beg the question of whether or not this Pretty Little Pirate has any plans on going to a Halloween-eve party at KEE for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.  The Surfer Girl has been an unofficial “win and your in” race since it appeared on the calendar and it is still a reasonable three weeks away.  That decision will belong to winning trainer Night Mare Racing who won the stake for time in her career, though it might be a pretty easy one to make.  Aboard the winner was J Talamo, who won the race for the second time in his career.  Pretty Little Pirate was impressive here today, routing the field and shattering the track record by nine tenths of a second, in 1:33.30. Let’s take a look now at how the Pirate won his possible date to KEE.

1st- 10- Pretty Little Pirate (12/1)- Our eventual race winner was midpack to start off with for Night Mare Racing, assuming a spot about 4-5 lengths from the lead for the run into the first turn.  At the top of the backstretch, J Talamo knew he had a horse with a lot of run ready to unleash, but wanted to be sure he had the right lane.  Showed some indecision before deciding on staying to the outside of Red Rose of Texas for the backstretch run.  At the exit of the turn, she absolutely exploded and easy completed the passes to move into the lead.  And there wasn’t really anything coming from behind her either, so with a furlong to go she had pretty much checked out and already opened up about a two length lead on the disappearing Musical Ride.  It was all about her in the stretch, as she completely blew this field away, and wins while going away, away perhaps to KEE at the end of the month.   Pretty Little Pirate is a two year old filly by Sneaky Little Pirate, who is currently the top-earning freshman sire in the game.  She is out of Great Pass (by Jolly be Great).    She was bred in California by Night Mare Racing, the only trainer for which she has ever known.  Congratulations to all the connections!

2nd- 11- Musical Ride (58/1)- Started aggressively from the outside for her trainer, SamIam.  The longest shot on the board would lead the field into the opening turn and would set the opening quarter in :23.15.   Continued to lead the field for the duration of the backstretch run, and opened up a little more as they moved into the final turn.  The ½ mile time was set in :46.45. Led the field into the stretch, but when Pretty Little Pirate went by, there was nothing that Musical Ride could do about it.  It also looked like a few more were going to ger by her in the stretch, so give credit to her for showing heart to the wire and holding on to the second position and creating a high paying exacta.

3rd- 9- Red Rose of Texas (13/1)- The Joseph Racing entry got off to a pretty good start, fifth overall, and in a pretty good position as they made their way into the first turn.  Jockey D Van Dyke looked to make a move with her around the turn, and set up to complete the passes of Known To Profit and Broomstick Is Yummy even with Pretty Little Pirate bearing down on her.  At the top of stretch, she seemed to be full of run.  She wasn’t going to catch Pretty Little Pirate, but looked as though she was going to follow her to the wire about a length or so behind her.  Then, that run just fizzled out, and she ends up third, and gives winning trifecta holders something to scream about!

4th- 7- Known To Profit (11/1)- Got off to a good start from the gate for Nakamura Stables, but opted not to put too much pressure on Musical Ride early.  She continued to be content with this position for the backstretch, staying two lengths off the lead.  Stayed in that position for the run into the top of the stretch, and really never made a push to advance herself.  It’s one of those performances where the filly didn’t necessarily do anything wrong, but didn’t really inspire, either.

5th- 2- Sentient Pup (6/1)- Our pre-race pick from Gdp Inc rode the rail early in a midpack position.  It looked like G Stevens wanted to move her forward in the turn a little bit, but did not have much room to make the move.  Eventually though, room did appear, and there was plenty of it for the stretch run.  With a couple others beginning to back up, this is where Sentient Pup needed to shine and advance herself, but she could not do so and has a disappointing finish.

6th- 1- Little Kruz (8/1)- The Brave entry could see them all in front of her in the early going.  Kept herself positioned along the rail for the backstretch run and even into the turn.  Then on exit of the turn, V Espinoza made an aggressive move to try and get her to make a string close, much like we saw in her last start.  Unfortunately for her, this move would be hindered by traffic woes.  She was never able to get a lane and settled for sixth.

7th- 6- Stop The Presses (7/1)- Got off to a pretty good start for Mb Stables, stalking the stalkers in the 4th position early.  She would run consistently over the course of the backstretch, but as they moved into the turn, she would start to lose touch with those she had been running with.  Gradually backed out of it more in the stretch.

8th- 3- Love Divine (6/1)- The Wolfs Den entry did not start particularly well, but this was too be expected as she has a liking of coming from off the pace in prior starts.  She was rather flat in the turn, and when Little Kruz looked to be positioning herself for a late run, Love Divine just didn’t seem to have that same push coming.   Doesn’t have the same excuse Little Kruz has, though.

9th- 8- Broomstick Is Yummy (4/1)- The filly from Drabfantasy was ready to go for her second race in two weeks, and would be second, about a length back for the run into the opening turn.  Kept herself just to the outside of Known To Profit for the run down the backstretch.  Decided she was done for the day in the turn and faded way back.

10th- 5- Angel Of Destiny (34/1)- Did not get off to a good start for Two Hearts One Love, being next to last early. Lingered at the back over the course of the turn and into the top of the stretch.  Made a wide bid exiting the turn and into the stretch, but this would not amount to anything.

11th- 4- Nebraska Fives (5/1)–   It was an average start for the Drabfantasy entry, running at the back of the initial eight-horse pack.    Maintained a position about a length behind Stop The Presses for the run around the turn, although that one was also losing ground.  In the stretch, she ran rather poorly, her second straight dismal finish this month.

Track: Firm
Time: :23   :46²  1:09³  1:33¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 10 – 11 Paid 524.10
$1 Trifecta: 10 – 11 – 9 Paid 1,171.40

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded