The Gallorette Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
PIM- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
May 19, 2018

The weather was something that an alligator might enjoy, so perhaps it should not have been a surprise when Alligator ended up in the winners circle following the 14th running of the Gallorette Stakes. She was one of two three year olds in the field, and we are at the time of year where their weight allowances are going to be especially significant. We made her one of her picks, but not the top pick, due to the fact that she had never raced on an off track before. With her name, I shouldn’t have doubted that. This up and coming filly by Keyed Up responded perfectly to her graded stake debut, and we’ll be seeing plenty of her this year, with more opportunities to use alligator-themed puns. The winning trainer is Maxmillion Farm, a trainer used to success on the grass, but its his first win in this stake. That is also true for jockey J J Castellano. Congratulations to them! The time of the win on the soft turf was 1:44.43. Here’s a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :24.62)- At the start of the race, we see both Pink Bombshell, from Night Rider Stables, and the longshot Ocean Reef, from Chili King Stables take the early advantage. Into the first turn, it was Pink Bombshell, with rider R Maragh aboard, as had been anticipated there was a jockey change on her after the preview was written. All Together Now, wanted to stay together with the top two, and assumed a stalking position for Running Farms. Ineffable (TwinTowersRacing) and I justwantthe Purple (Gdp Inc) were in the middle of the field, side by side, and trailing by three lengths. Towards the back were the post time favorite Angel Wing (Mb Stables) and her stablemate Quiet Word. Trailing the field was the eventual winner, Alligator. At this point, she had nearly seven lengths to make up for Maxmillion Farm.

(½ Mile- :49.53)- Making their way down the backstretch, we do not see much in the way of change. Pink Bombshell continues to show the way, and holds a half length advantage on Ocean Reef, who is running to her inside. All Together Now is content to be a length and a half off the lead. The main mover at this stage of the race was Ineffable, who inched her way closer a couple lengths and was preparing to pull up to the inside of All Together Now. I justwantthe Purple was not interested in going with her, and further back the Mb Stables’ teammates still raced together, with an Alligator chasing them. Alligator now trailed by eight.

(2F To Go)- Things got crazy in the turn. It all started when I justwantthe Purple made a sudden four wide move not too long after hitting the half mile, and handled the turn very impressively. In a blink of an eye, not only did she catch the leaders, but she made an emphatic pass for the lead and had about a length advantage at the top of the stretch. Midway through the turn, it just looked like our pacesetters stopped with the way that the trailers so rapidly cut into their lead. Another huge charger here was Quiet Word, who came on with so much authority, it was like the she was a vehicle entering the highway who suddenly had to brake for slow traffic on the road. Instead of braking though, Quiet Word she made a six-wide move, one further lane then the path that I justwantthe Purple had chosen. An opening on the rail was there for Angel Wing to take advantage of. Alligator was still last in the running order, but had also closed quite a bit in the turn. She was now just three lengths from the lead, and even though she was on the outside, had a pretty clear lane in front of her. As for the frontrunners, Pink Bombshell and Ocean Reef, they just came to a halt and looked to be easy pickings. The stalkers, All Together Now and Ineffable just did not seem prepared for the sudden rush that was coming from behind them.

(Finish- 1:44.43)- Early into the stretch, I justwantthe Purple was looking strong, and looked to pull away, but she had company in the form of Quiet Word, who was being anything but quiet in the form of this challenge. Running even stronger was Alligator who took the outer most lane, and began inching closer to the top two. Despite how well those two were running, Alligator was making up ground, and with one and a half furlongs to go, time seemed to be on her side. Angel Wing was trying to use the rail to her advantage. Meanwhile, everyone else in the field was being given the slip. With a furlong to go, and just as Quiet Word took over the lead, J J Castellano, went to the whip one more time to get more of Alligator, and she delivered, chomping away at the leaders, before pulling away in the final strides. Quiet Word was a good looking second, and I justwantthe Purple gets third. Angel Wing gets the fourth place check, and then it was nearly a full second back to the rest of the field. The final running order would read, Ineffable, All Together Now, Pink Bombshell, and Ocean Reef.

About The Winner- Alligator, trained by Maxmillion Farm and ridden to victory by J J Castellano, is a three year old filly by Keyed Up, and is out of Police Roadster. She was bred in Florida by Keikowin Racing as a yearling, and acquired by Maxmillion via private sales in July 2017 for $75.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her third in ten starts, and is her first stake win of any sort. Her career earnings are now $181.800.

Track: Soft
Time: :24³  :49²  1:14²  1:44²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 5 Paid 67.10
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 5 – 8 Paid 1,424.70

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES