Center Aisle Bests Frank's Rockette in Sugar Swirl

Center Aisle  was no match for Frank's Rockette  the first two times they hooked up on the track.

This was not the case Dec. 18 at Gulfstream Park, when Center Aisle engaged her nemesis in the stretch and drew off for a one-length victory in the $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3).

"She did it pretty impressively," said winning jockey Luis Saez.

The connections for Center Aisle always had high hopes for the filly after she broke her maiden convincingly on her first try at Gulfstream in March 2020 for trainer Chad Brown. But four straight defeats followed, including a pair of third-place finishes that same year to Frank's Rockette in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park and Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. It was then that owner Larry Best of OXO Equine decided to turn Center Aisle out for a year.

The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief   has returned in grand fashion for trainer Paulo Lobo, winning a pair of tune-up races against allowance company at Keeneland and Churchill Downs before Saturday's victory in the six-furlong Sugar Swirl.

"She was coming into the race ready from two very nice races," Lobo said.

With Frank's Rockette involved in a front-running duel with three other members of the eight-horse field, Saez guided Center Aisle outside into a stalking position behind a tepid opening-quarter time of :21.72 and had his mount a head in front for a half in :44.18. Center Aisle and favored Frank's Rockette then dueled their way to the wire.

"The other filly was running pretty fast," Saez said. "But I had a lot of horse, and when we came to the top of the stretch, she gave me another kick. We knew we had a horse with fight, and she did it."

Lobo said he was never concerned when Center Aisle and Frank's Rockette dueled for several strides.

"I felt good because the body language of Saez, she looked very comfortable," Lobo said.

Center Aisle clocked the six furlongs on fast main track in 1:09.54. She returned $6.20 for the win.

Bronx Beauty  was a distant third, five lengths behind Frank's Rockette.

Lobo said the plan is to send Center Aisle back to his base at The Thoroughbred Center in  Lexington for a freshening before returning her to South Florida for the seven-furlong, $200,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Jan. 29. 

Center Aisle has won half of her eight career starts for earnings of $263,190. 

She was the third-highest selling juvenile and top-selling filly at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select 2-year-olds in training sale in Florida, in 2019 when bought for $1.5 million from consignor Tom McCrocklin, agent, during her third trip through the ring. Larry Best signed the ticket for the filly after she blazed a quarter-mile in :20 3/5 during the under tack show.

Bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm, Center Aisle is out of the Empire Maker mare Specification, who is a half sister to two-time Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) victor Skimming. Specification is the dam of five winners from six foals to race and delivered a colt by Goldencents   this year. She was bred to Vino Rosso   for 2022.

Video: Sugar Swirl S. (G3)

Dance d'Oro Wires Rampart

Dance d'Oro  scored her first stakes victory earlier on the card in the $100,000 Rampart Stakes (G3), leading throughout and coasting to a two-length victory over Don't Get Khozy .

Jockey Emisael Jaramillo rode the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   through comfortable early fractions in the one-mile stakes, leaving the filly with plenty of reserve in the stretch.

"We were comfortable in the front, good pace," Jaramillo said. "When I asked her for run, she ran easy, because the first part of the race was easy for her."

Dance d'Oro, trained by Ralph Nicks for owner/breeder Whisper Hill Farm, was making her stakes debut in what was her 11th career race. Following a three-month layoff, the filly romped to a 9 1/4 length victory in a Sept. 24 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, followed by a third-place effort in a Nov. 21 handicap race over the Hallandale Beach, Fla., oval. 

"Her first race back was amazing, and maybe she bounced a little bit because she ran so hard," Nicks said. "Today was another huge effort."

Dance d'Oro raced to the front up the backstretch and set early splits of :23.92 and :45.97 before opening up two lengths on the field on the turn for home. Don't Get Khozy made a late run, but was no match for the winner. Allworthy , the 8-5 favorite, ducked in at the start out of the chute and finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

Miracle's International Trading's Dream Marie , second in last year's Rampart, was in the process of being pulled up down the lane when she unseated jockey Junior Alvarado past the eighth pole. She was vanned off after the race. 

Alvarado walked off and rode his remaining mounts on the card.

The final time for the mile on a fast track was 1:35.92. Off as the second choice at 2-1 in the field of six, Dance d'Oro paid $6.80 for the win.

"It has to be maturity," Nicks said of the filly's improvement. "She's always had talent, but it was hit and miss. She's getting a little more consistent."

Nicks said he would likely keep Dance d'Oro, who has earned $157,660 and has a 4-4-1 record, in South Florida throughout Gulfstream's Championship Meet before making a decision on upcoming races.

"We'll stay here through the winter and see from there," Nicks said.

Dance d'Oro is a daughter of the stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare Dance Quietly, who hails from the family of two Horses of the Year in Saint Liam and Gun Runner  , as well as grade 1 winners Funtastic   and Buster's Ready. Dance Quietly was purchased while carrying Dance d'Oro for $950,000 out of Three Chimneys Farm's consignment at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Prior to that sale, the now 13-year-old mare sold to Besilu Stables for $2 million at the 2011 Keeneland November sale when consigned by Lane's End upon her retirement from racing. Dance Quietly has produced three winners from six starters. Her youngest progeny include a yearling filly by Arrogate who sold for $40,000 to Three Amigos Racing Stable out of Timber Town's consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and a weanling colt by Justify  . She was bred to Authentic   for 2022.

Video: Rampart S. (BT)