Octane, Outfoxed Capture Florida Sire Stakes Divisions
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Octane wins the Affirmed division of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Octane set a quick early pace, but the Arindel homebred had plenty left in the tank for the stretch on his way to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed Stakes Aug. 28 at Gulfstream Park.
One of four Arindel homebred sons of Brethren in an 11-horse field, Octane broke alertly from his rail position in the seven-furlong event for Florida Sire Stakes-registered 2-year-old colts and geldings. He rushed up to lead along the backstretch under guidance from Emisael Jaramillo and set fractions of :22.50 and :45.24 through the first half-mile.
Favorite Cajun's Magic , winner of the FSS Dr. Fager division July 31, advanced into second after racing sixth early, but Octane kicked clear in the stretch to complete the distance in 1:25.16 on a fast track. The winner paid $22.20 for a $2 win ticket.
Cajun's Magic finished second three lengths ahead of Big and Classy .
Octane, who finished second in his June 18 debut, was coming off a July 17 maiden victory in which he overcame traffic and fractious behavior at the starting gate.
"I love this little horse. He's small but he has a ton of heart," trainer Carlos David said. "He was a little bit nervous prior to his second start. He was a little wild behind the gate. I had to put a lot of gate work into him and teach him to stand right. He's got some growing up to do, but I think he's going to be all right."
The Affirmed stretched the bay gelding out two furlongs from his five-furlong maiden score.
"I think the workout he had about a week ago was key. It was five furlongs (in 1:00 3/5 at Palm Meadows Training Center), galloping out three-quarters in 1:13. That told me that he can definitely get the distance. I was very confident coming into this race," David said.
David still has a decision to make regarding the final leg of the FSS series, the Sept. 25 In Reality division at 1 1/16 miles.
"I know the next leg is a mile and sixteenth, so it is challenging. I'll have to talk to the connections," David said. "Arindel has been great. They've given me the opportunity to train for them."We have a great communication. We'll talk about it and make a plan."
Octane, an earner of $170,000, was bred in Florida out of the Aldebaran mare Star Recruit and his 3-year-old full brother Gatsby is multiple stakes placed. Star Recruit is also the dam of a yearling filly by Brethren.
Video: FTBOA Florida Sire Affirmed S. (BT)
Outfoxed Romps in Susan's Girl
LNJ Foxwoods' Outfoxed was a standout Saturday at Gulfstream, graduating in her second lifetime start by 13 1/2 lengths in the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Susan's Girl Stakes.
The daughter of Valiant Minister is the first black-type winner for her Bridlewood Farm sire.
Outfoxed takes the Susan's Girl division of the Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Outfoxed finished third in a July 15 maiden race at Saratoga Race Course in her debut. Saturday she scored by the largest margin in the history of the Susan's Girl, eclipsing Ivanavinalot 's 2002 record of 10 lengths. Ivanavinalot later produced the dual champion Songbird .
"The racing manager Alex Solis let me know she was eligible for the race, and he kept me updated on potential runners," said Mott from Saratoga. "He kind of left it in my hands. We could run her in a maiden race up here in Saratoga or down there. We thought it was a good spot, and it turned out to be."
Sent to post as the 7-5 favorite in a field of 11 FSS-registered fillies, Outfoxed turned in a thoroughly professional performance under Gulfstream's leading rider Edgard Zayas, once she reluctantly loaded into the starting gate.
"She was super good before the race. It was just getting into the gate," said Zayas following his fifth FSS winning ride. "Once she got to the gate, she got a little nervous. After that she was perfect, all class."
Outfoxed raced in seventh through the opening quarter and was up into third by the half as Devilette posted fractions of :23.06 and :45.28. The dark bay or brown filly launched a three-wide sweep to the lead before kicking clear in the stretch. She covered the seven furlongs in a quick 1:23.81 and paid $4.80.
"She broke good out of the gate. She dropped back a little bit. There was plenty of pace. A seven-furlong race can be very hard on 2-year-old fillies, so I let her sit a little," Zayas said. "At the half-mile (pole), I didn't want to go too wide, so I tucked her in a little bit. After that she was taking me very nice. She was very impressive."
Devilette held to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of My Sassenach .
Outfoxed was the second horse to represent Mott in the FSS series. His only other starter was Inner Light , who finished seventh in the 2017 In Reality.
Regarding the 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl division to complete the FSS series for fillies Sept. 25, Mott said: "We will have to make a decision on that pretty soon."
Outfoxed was bred in Florida by Baoma Corp. and is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Kantharos mare Savingtime , who also has a Tunwoo yearling filly and produced a full sister to Outfoxed this year.
An earner of $132,000, Outfoxed was originally a $27,000 purchase by Jesse Hoppel from the Abbie Road Farm consignment to the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales October Yearlings, 2-Year-Olds, and Horses of Racing Age Sale. Hoppel's Coastal Equine then sold the filly to Solis/Litt for $360,000 at this year's OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.