Pacific Gale Blows Away Rivals in Hurricane Bertie
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Pacific Gale wins the Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Holly Hill Stable's Pacific Gale rolled to her second straight graded stakes victory at Gulfstream Park March 20, scoring a 3 1/2-length victory over Sound Machine in the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3).
The 6-year-old Flat Out mare trained by John Kimmel had gone winless in 17 straight starts before capturing the Jan. 23 Inside Information Stakes (G2) under John Velazquez Jan. 23 at Gulfstream. She came right back to score in the Hurricane Bertie, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, under a ground-saving ride by Junior Alvarado.
"I rode her a couple times at Saratoga and Belmont. We always thought she was great but for some reason we never got the best of her," Alvarado said. "She's stepping up right now. She's at another level right now."
Pacific Gale advanced along the rail to race behind pacesetter Cory Gal, who set fractions of :22.36 and :45.30 through a half-mile, and to the inside of stalkers Sonar and Sound Machine. Sound Machine made a three-wide sweep on the turn to get the jump on 4-5 favorite Pacific Gale and take the lead at the top of the stretch. But Alvarado was able to get Pacific Gale into gear and the mare kicked in to rush past Sound Machine and draw off to win comfortably.
"I just had to make sure I stayed off the heels of everybody and make sure to give her a clear run from there," Alvarado said. "She was there for me all the way around."
Pacific Gale ($3.80) completed the distance in 1:15.93 on a fast track. Sound Machine held second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Saguaro Row.
The win provided Alvarado with his fourth of five victories and first of two stakes successes on a 12-race card.
Alvarado, who came back to ride Warrior's Pride to victory in the Texas Glitter Stakes two races later, has ridden 48 winners while riding full time during the Championship Meet for the first time in 12 years. The 36-year-old native of Venezuela had been highly successful riding at Aqueduct Racetrack during the winter months in past years.
"The support I've been receiving from the owners and trainers has been beyond what I was expecting," said Alvarado, who rode his first winner in the United States at Gulfstream in 2007. "It's been a really amazing experience and I can't wait to come back again next winter."
Bred in Kentucky by Bally Breeders, Pacific Gale is out of the Forestry mare Pacific Whisper. The dam has four winners from six to race and has an unraced 2-year-old colt by Bernardini named Bourbondini, and an unnamed yearling colt by Malibu Moon .
Pacific Gale was a $72,000 purchase by Kimmel on behalf of Tobey Morton from the Woodside Ranch consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2017 Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.