Yes I Am Free, One Identity Shine at Gulfstream

Golden Kernel Racing Stable's Yes I Am Free  went right to the front and was in control throughout Feb. 11 at Gulfstream Park on his way to successfully defend his title in the $125,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3T).

The Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint, a five-furlong dash for older horses, was supported on Saturday's 12-race program by the $100,000 Ladies Turf Sprint, a five-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.

Yes I Am Free ($8.60) shot out of the starting gate and showed the way during a half-mile on fractions of :21.75 and :44.33 with Caratori and Shekky Shebaz  in pursuit. The Laura Cazares-trained 7-year-old gelding continued on to score a half-length decision over a determined Carotari. The son of Uncaptured  ran five furlongs in :55.71 over a firm turf course while making quick work of his title defense under Miguel Vasquez.

"We kind of had two ways that we were thinking it would play out: get out, go to the lead, try to get to the rail and save some ground, get the lead and keep the lead. Or, if anybody else kind of wanted to go out in front, hang back a little bit, let the speed go and make a closing move." Cazares said. "I told Miguel, 'Do what you need to do. You know how the race is going to play out there. I don't want to tell you too much. These are our two game plans and go with whichever one.'"

Carotari, the 7-5 favorite who was ridden by Joel Rosario, finished second three-quarters of a length ahead of Shekky Shebaz.

Yes I Am Free had come off a five-month layoff to win an optional claiming allowance by a hard-fought nose Jan. 19.

"His last race as a very tough race and we were very worried," Cazares said. "He hadn't run in a while and we know he was going to need a race off the layoff but he fought the entire way. He was not giving up. He showed a lot of heart."

Saturday's victory was Yes I Am Free's 11th in 25 career starts, the most memorable being last year's triumph in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.

"It feels amazing because I hadn't won a grade 3 race before, I didn't really win any stakes race before, so this guy has done a lot for me and (the owners)," Cazares said. "It's their first horse and look what he's done for them. He's done a lot for all of us. All the horses do a lot for all of us but this guy has done the biggest so far. It's great."

Bred in Florida by Sherry R. Mansfield & Kenneth H. Davis out of the winning Yes It's True mare Yes It's Valid, Yes I Am Free was a $135,000 purchase by Justin Casse, agent, from the Hawk's Nest consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2018. He is the lone graded winner out of his dam, who also produced black-type-placed Nikee Kan. The mare has a 2-year-old Awesome Slew   colt whose name application is pending, and was reported bred to Girvin   for 2023. 

Video: Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint S. (G3T)

One Identity Becomes a Stakes Winner

Lawson Racing Stables' One Identity , in her fourth race off the claim and second straight on the grass, got a well-timed ride from jockey Paco Lopez to become a stakes winner for the first time with a half-length triumph over Charlie T  in the $100,000 Ladies Turf Sprint.

Trained by Rohan Crichton, 4-year-old One Identity ($8.20) covered five furlongs in :55.92 in the test for fillies and mares 4 and up.

Claimed for $35,000 last summer at Gulfstream, One Identity was exiting a third-place effort in an optional claiming allowance sprinting five furlongs Jan. 18, her turf debut, beaten less than two lengths. That race snapped a two-race win streak for the daughter of Uncaptured, both victories having come over Gulfstream's all-weather Tapeta surface.

"When she ran the last time, Paco admitted they went too fast and he wanted to relax her a little bit more so that's what he did," Crichton said. "It played out well for us."

Lopez settled One Identity in fourth saving ground as 35-1 long shot War of Ages  blazed through an opening quarter of a mile in :21.42, pressed to her outside by Charlie T. Lopez waited patiently for room that came when the field straightened for home, splitting War of Ages and Charlie T at the top of the stretch and outrunning a determined Charlie T to the wire.

Mamba Wamba , sent off as the 2-1 favorite, completed the trifecta.

"Paco sat and got a good trip. He decided to go inside," Crichton said. "He gave up the garden spot outside, but the rail opened up and she got through."

Bred in Florida by Laurie Plesa, David Melin and Leon Ellman out of the Leroidesanimaux mare Exchange Identity, One Identity is the first black-type winner out of the mare, who has produced two winners from three starters. The mare has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Jess's Dream   and was reported bred to Uncle Chuck   for 2023. One Identity won three of seven starts before being claimed and was second in the Any Limit sprinting six furlongs on the dirt last winter at Gulfstream. She has now won three of four starts for Crichton, who said he had not looked beyond the Ladies Turf Sprint for One Identity.

"One dream at a time," he said. "She's gotten better and better, for sure."

Video: Ladies' Turf Sprint S. (BT)