Obligatory Flies Home Late in Hurricane Bertie

Juddmonte's homebred Obligatory  made a triumphant return to action March 12 at Gulfstream Park, winning her first start of  2022 in the $100,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (G3).

The Hurricane Bertie, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mare, co-headlined Saturday's 12-race program with the $100,000 Captiva Island Stakes, a five-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares that was transferred from turf to the synthetic Tapeta surface.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Obligatory was making her first start since winning the Nov. 20 Chilukki Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin   trailed the six-horse field as Bramble Berry  showed the way under Edwin Gonzalez through fractions of :22.40 and :46.26 over a sloppy track. Obligatory, the 6-5 second betting choice ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, made steady progress along the rail on the far turn and into the homestretch to loom as a threat to the loose-on-the-lead pacesetter at the top of the stretch. Bramble Berry continued to lead into mid-stretch before finally succumbing to the late kick of Obligatory, who drew off to win by three lengths once gained outside in the lane.

"We knew she would come from behind. We were hoping there was enough speed in front of her," Gaffalione said. "Bill said she normally doesn't take the turn well, but today she was taking it the whole way."

Obligatory broke her maiden at Gulfstream Feb. 7, 2021, and went on to win the seven-furlong Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2) at Churchill Downs and finish a close second in the mile Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, as well as finishing second in the two-turn Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing.

Obligatory ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.92 on a main track rated good to win her second race at Gulfstream in as many starts. Bramble Berry finished second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of even-money favorite Four Graces .

Bred in Kentucky, Obligatory is out of the stakes-winning Macho Uno  mare Uno Duo . The dam's two foals to start are winners. She also has a 2-year-old Arrogate colt, named Treble Clef, as well as a yearling Into Mischief   colt. She was bred to Speightstown   for the 2022 season. 

Obligatory upped her earnings to $772,894 and improved her overall record to 4-2-0 from 10 career starts.

Video: Hurricane Bertie S. (G3)

Headline Hunter Speeds to Captiva Island Score

Jockey Jevian Toledo, a perennial leading rider in Maryland coming off his third overall championship in 2021, made the most of a day trip to South Florida by guiding Headline Hunter  to a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Captiva Island Stakes.

Toledo, a 27-year-old native of Puerto Rico, has won more than 1,230 races but picked up his first win at Gulfstream, where he was riding for the first time since March 23, 2019, when he was fourth on In the Loop  in the Hutcheson Stakes (G3).

"It feels great," said Toledo. "To win my first race at Gulfstream, and in a stake, and during the Championship Meet it's really special."

ProRacing Stable, Al Bianchi Racing, Corms Racing Stable, and On The Rise Again Stable's Headline Hunter finished up in :57.51 to establish a five-furlong track record over the all-weather Tapeta. The Captiva Island was rained off the grass.

Claimed for $35,000 out of a win over the Gulfstream Tapeta last November, Headline Hunter settled in second pressing multiple stakes winner and 8-5 favorite Miss Auramet  through a quarter-mile in :22.50 under a snug hold from Toledo. Headline Hunter moved up to even terms rounding the far turn and began to edge clear once straightened for home, going a half-mile in :45.45.

"This filly ran a really huge race," trainer Jose D'Angelo said. "She came from the claim and she improves and improves and improves every morning, every day."

"Everybody that basically went to the front today didn't win," Toledo said. "I got a good break and I put her right there in a good spot. When I asked her in the stretch, she just took off. She's a nice filly. She looks like she's getting better and better."

Miss Auramet held second, a length ahead of fellow multiple stakes winner Miss J McKay , followed by La Libertee  and Bernie's Mistress . Naughty Shirley  was pulled up on the far turn and vanned off. Tobys Heart  and A G Indy  were scratched.

Toledo, who leads the current Laurel Park winter meet with 32 victories, was already scheduled to be at Gulfstream for the Captiva Island, picking up five other mounts. Laurel canceled their Saturday card due to a winter storm.

"I picked up some mounts and it really worked out pretty good. It's really nice to be here. We ended up not having anything (at Laurel) so it's pretty good that I could still be riding today," Toledo said. "I came in last night. My flight was canceled tonight and they moved it to Monday so I have to see if I can get another flight for tomorrow because I ride (at Laurel) tomorrow. Hopefully, I can find a flight to get back."

The winning daughter of Tapizar  was bred in Kentucky by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey. She is out of the winning Kitten's Joy   mare High Wire Kitten , whose three foals to race have produced two winners. High Wire Kitten also has a yearling Speightster   colt named Firespitten Kitten. Headline Hunter is the most successful of her progeny with earnings of $134,060. 

Video: Captiva Island S. (BT)