The Orchid $150.000 for fillies and mares four years old and upwards

1 1/2 on Turf

Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida

Six-year-old mare Explorer from Avenue Z went off as the third choice and made the return on investment look like easy money as she cruised out to the early lead and never gave them a chance, running the rest of the field off their hooves. Geared down at the wire, the mare won for the ninth time in her career. Congrats to the connections for the big win. Be Exceptional from TwinTowersRacing tracked the whole way but just couldn’t get to the mare in front of her today. Nice effort to hold second place down. Eva from The Sidley Stud was our longshot play and got crushed at the windows, going off as the public choice. She ran well to get third and at one point looked like she was going to finish higher. One Spirit from Nakamura Stables was closing, but that just wasn’t the place to be given the way this race unfolded. Decent effort, nonetheless.

Of the rest:

Nijinsky from Team 7 Illusions kind of just circled the oval today as her winless streak continues to mount. Interesting to see if she gets any class relief in her next start to spur a possible comeback.

Sannys Legacy from Threshold had a bit of an eventful trip and was simply not going to fire a big enough shot from where she was positioned today the way the race went down.

Petroleum, also from The Sidley Stud tired after the half mile pole and backed out of contention, looking like a horse that didn’t care for the distance or the surroundings.

Mean Girl from DJC Racing Stables unfortunately looked like a shell of her former self today and was retired by the connections before leaving the backside for her home ranch. I wish her well in the breeding shed. The nicely conformed diminutive beauty should produce some nice offspring for the connections.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES