Main Event, Full Count Felicia Take Gulfstream Stakes

Main Event 's speed puts him in a position to win many races, and his determination makes him difficult to pass.

Both traits were on display Dec. 30 in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park when he shot to the lead under Javier Castellano and after being collared by an onrushing Kingmax  in midstretch, repelled that rival for a nose victory. Saturday's race marked his second straight triumph in a photo finish, following a head victory in an allowance optional claiming race on grass Nov. 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano did his part to secure the victory, settling his mount on the lead with fractions of :23.84, :47.88, and 1:11.25 in the 1 1/8-mile turf race that left Main Event with energy in reserve. It proved just enough. Main Event hit the wire narrowly in front of the David Egan-ridden Kingmax, timed in 1:46.47 over "good" turf. Main Event returned $25 to win.

Jerry the Nipper , shuffled back late on the backstretch when in tight, rallied to nip Grand Sonata  in a photo for show. 

The Fort Lauderdale was the fifth victory in 13 starts for the George Weaver-trained Main Event and his third win in a stakes race. Last year, he won the Cutler Bay Stakes at Gulfstream and the Kent Stakes (G3T) at Delaware Park.

The Fort Lauderdale serves as a prep for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T). The $1 million race is Jan. 27 at Gulfstream over the same 1 1/8-mile trip on grass.

"I would try it, why not? He loves this turf course," Weaver said. 

Bloodlines

• Bred by Godolphin and Eric and Elizabeth Buckley, Main Event is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Total Knockout .
• The winner is a 4-year-old by the late Bernardini, a classic winner and high-class Darley sire who died in 2021.

Full Count Felicia Pitches Strike in Suwannee River

Brittany Russell—on the verge in 2023 of becoming the first woman to finish the year as Maryland's leading trainer—showed off her training skill for a Florida crowd Saturday when Full Count Felicia  delivered inside to win the $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.

The victory was her fifth in seven starts since Russell began training her with a 0-for-7 record. The Suwannee River was Full Count Felicia's first stakes win at the graded level and second black-type score.

After getting shuffled back into the first of two turns when in tight along the rail, Full Count Felicia otherwise enjoyed a dream trip under Irad Ortiz Jr., saving ground up the inside and closing from fifth to defeat Accomplished Girl  by three-quarters of a length. Pacesetting Sister Lou Ann , who drifted off the inside down the lane, giving Full Count Felicia an opening, ran third.

The winner ran a mile on "good" turf in 1:34.23, following splits of :23.83, :48.25, and 1:11.65 established by Sister Lou Ann. Coming off a fourth in the Goldikova Stakes (G2T) Nov. 5 at Santa Anita Park, Full Count Felicia was heavily backed and paid $4.20 to win as the favorite.

Ortiz, expected to win his fifth Eclipse Award for his riding accomplishments this year, notched his 365th victory of 2023 and his 42nd at the graded level.

"I was waiting for the time to go, and when I asked her, she was there for me," he said of Full Count Felicia.

Pedigree

• Gold Square owns the winner, a 4-year-old filly by War Front   out of the Galileo mare Claire de Lune .
• War Front, North America's second-leading turf sire of 2023, stands for a $100,000 fee in 2024 at Claiborne Farm.