Atomic Blonde Blows Away Competition in South Beach
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Zoe Metz
Atomic Blonde wins the South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park
John Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services' Atomic Blonde showed off her explosive turn of foot Jan. 25 when she powered through deep stretch to take the $150,000 South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Guided by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, Atomic Blonde broke sharply and settled in third on the inside behind early leaders Hidden Facts, who set the pace just off the rail, and Picara, who stalked the frontrunner two lengths behind. Limari, who broke slowly out of post 9, drove hard to the front line as the first quarter went in :22.94.
Biding her time from her pocket on the inside, Atomic Blonde kept the leaders in her crosshairs approaching the turn for home. Riding the rail, she drew on even terms with Hidden Facts before taking the lead by a half-length at the top of the stretch. Even-money favorite Mitchell Road, who brushed the gate at the start, made her own four-wide move on the outside, split horses in deep stretch, and took aim at the leader in the final furlongs.
Handled confidently by Castellano, Atomic Blonde kicked away from a waning Hidden Facts, who was passed by a dueling Mitchell Road and La Feve battling it out for place honors. The pair never seriously threatened Atomic Blonde, who crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front. The final time for the about 7 1/2-furlong turf race was 1:28.03.
The victory was the third of the day for trainer Todd Pletcher, who won with Candy Tycoon in race 2 and Market Analysis in race 4.
Bred in Kentucky by John Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock Services, and Nicole Gunther, Atomic Blonde is a 4-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy out of the Danehill Dancer mare Volver. She has a 3-1-1 record from five starts and $182,840 in earnings.
Jean Elizabeth Proves Versatile
The 5-year-old mare Jean Elizabeth picked up her sixth consecutive stakes win in her first start on turf Saturday, scoring by a half-length in the $150,000 Ladies' Turf Sprint Stakes for trainer Larry Rivelli.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Jean Elizabeth used her early speed to place herself forwardly in the nine-horse field behind Girls Know Best, who set the pace on the rail. Tracking Girls Know Best throughout the backstretch, Jean Elizabeth cut the leader's advantage to a half-length at the top of the stretch before collaring her in the final furlong.
Jean Elizabeth completed the five-furlong turf sprint in :55.26. Girls Know Best held for second, followed by Keota in third.
"I rode her last time, and she beat the favorite on dirt," Ortiz said. "I was told the filly would like the turf, so I rode her with confidence. Today, I let her settle a little bit, and at the quarter-pole, I asked her and she was there for me."
Jean Elizabeth wins the Ladies' Turf Sprint Stakes
Jean Elizabeth's previous stakes wins, including her sole graded score in the Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3) at Woodbine, came on dirt or synthetic tracks. Campaigned by Richard Ravin, Patricia's Hope, and Rivelli, she was bred in Illinois by Rivelli and Ravin out of the Lit de Justice mare Rooney Doodle.
The Ladies' Turf Sprint improved Jean Elizabeth's record to 13-4-2 from 19 starts with $562,668 in earnings.
Video: Ladies' Turf Sprint S. (BT)