FL Sire Stakes- My Dear ($500.000 Purse)
GP- For Fillies Two Years Old Foaled in FL
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the DIrt
October 1, 2016

Despite its high purse, there was some concern that the My Dear might not fill.  Eventually, it did, but even with that, it still looked like there was only two horses with a shot.  Komodo Freestyle and Unforgiving had battled twice in the FL Sire Stakes, with each having a win over the other.  Gunpower and Lead had taken them on once, but was beaten soundly in that race.  The fourth entry, Altered Cowboy, was an admitted sacrificial lamb in the forum.  Perhaps the best part of the race is that Altered Cowboy finished 3rd, and not 4th.  They ran this race on a sloppy track, and in the end its Komodo Freestyle taking two out of three against her rival.  The winner is trained by Australia Wide, who wins the race for the second time, but you have to go back ten years to his prior win.  Aboard the winner was J C Caraballo, as the race was won in a time of 1:47.73.  Congratulations to the winners! Here is an abbreviated summary.

1st- 3- Komodo Freestyle (8/5)- Our eventual winner from Australia Wide led everyone else go at the beginning of the race and was content to just run her own race at the back of the field.   She would remain back about five lengths for a while before beginning to move forward midway through the backstretch trip.  By the time they reached the beginning of the turn, she had pulled to within a length from his primary rival, Unforgiving.  At the top of the stretch, she had easily cleared her by half a length as he took the lead.  Unforgiving was not able to provide much resistance, and Komodo Freestyle cruises to the win. Komodo Freestyle is a two year old filly by To A Tune (Charley Farley) and out of Florida Dragon (Dogma).  She was bred in Florida by Team 7 Illusions as a yearling. She was sold a couple times early, but has been with Australia Wide the majority of her career.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 2- Unforgiving (3/1)– The runner up from Mb Stables began the race running in a midpack position about two and a half lengths from the lead.  Held her ground over the backstretch without much of a challenge on the pacesetting Altered Cowboy.  Heading into the turn, she began to make his move around the leader, but Komodo Freestyle was in a much stronger stride at this point.  Going around the turn, she would be passed for the lead and could not really muster up much of a fight.  A steady run allowed her to maintain second.

3rd- 4- Altered Cowboy (30/1)- Started quickly out of the gate for Chili King Stables, and led the way around the turn without much pressure, setting the opening quarter in :24.56.  Ran a steady pace in the backstretch as well, running a half in :49.54.  Held the lead until he was passed by Unforgiving at the top of the turn, and that pretty much ended up being her day.

4th- 1- Gunpowder And Lead (1/1)- How this one was the favorite of the race was a head scratcher, even by game logic.  Started the race battling for second for Aer Stables with Unforgiving before dropping back at the beginning of the backstretch run.  The drop back never stopped.

Track: Sloppy
Time: :24²  :49²  1:14⁴  1:47³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 2 Paid 5.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded