Groupie Doll Steady in Gulfstream Breeze
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Two-time Eclipse Award winner Groupie Doll breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park the morning of Jan. 25, preparing for her final career start in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie (gr. III) Feb. 9.
The 6-year-old daughter of Bowman's Band was timed in 1:00 4/5 after finishing the last quarter of a mile in :23 3/5 while traveling easily under exercise rider Jada Schlenk.
"She looked like she did it very well. We wanted to have a little easier work this week without pushing her. Last week, she saw some company in front of her and ran them down," trainer Buff Bradley said. "We just wanted to get a nice easy work and get some distance in her. She galloped out really strong."
Groupie Doll, purchased at the 2013 Keeneland November breeding stock sale by Mandy Pope for $3.1 million, has worked three times at Gulfstream since finishing a troubled fourth in the Cigar Mile (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack. Last week, she breezed five furlongs in :59 4/5.
The Hurricane Bertie, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, is scheduled to be Groupie Doll's 23rd and last start of a brilliant career that includes back-to-back triumphs in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
"We'll probably breeze her next Sunday and go a half, hopefully, a sharp half," said Bradley, who bred Groupie Doll with his father, Fred, and campaigned her through 21 starts with partners Carl Hurst and Brent Burns.