Life's an Audible, First World War Score at Gulfstream

Repole Stable's Life's an Audible , widest of all turning for home, collared the field late for her first stakes victory in the $175,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.

Life's an Audible had been knocking at the black-type door since her narrow second-place finish to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) heroine Hard to Justify  in the Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) last fall. After a frustrating eighth in the Breeders' Cup, she had to again settle for second-best in Gulfstream's Ginger Brew Stakes Jan. 6.

Feb. 3 would be her day, however.

With one horse beat down the backstretch, Life's an Audible settled willingly under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and responded on cue past the half-mile in :47.06, picking off horses with every stride around the final bend. Pushed out wide by her rivals, she pushed on determinedly and surged past last-out maiden winner Style Points  in the final yards for a neck score. Dynamic Pricing  was another neck back in third.

The 2-1 betting favorite, Life's an Audible ($5.80) completed the 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in a sharp 1:39.36.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Life's an Audible collected her second win in six starts for earnings of $243,045. The 3-year-old daughter of Audible   was purchased by Repole for $200,000 at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

What They Said:

“(Life's an Audible) got a little further back than we had talked about prior to the race, but it seems like she’s kind of found her groove just wanting to settle and make a late run. She really delivered a good turn of foot.” -Todd Pletcher

The Kitten's Joy

The move back to turf proved the right call for Qatar Racing and Hunter Valley Farm's First World War  as he won the 1 1/16-mile $175,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes (G3T).

The Kitten's Joy was the 3-year-old son of War Front  's first start on turf since finishing fourth in the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland Oct. 8. After two runner-up finishes on the dirt, Brendan Walsh's choice to switch back to turf was rewarded with the colt's first graded stakes score.

Tyler Gaffalione kept First World War perfectly relaxed while stalking in second behind pacesetting Tocayo  through fractions of :24.44, :47.97, and 1:10.97.

Gaffalione pushed the button as they turned for home and surged past Tocayo, who held on well for third. Hammerstein , who was very rank trying to find a spot on the rail entering the first turn, chased First World War the whole way down the stretch but settled for second a half-length behind in 1:39.78.

First World War paid $7.00 to win as the second choice. Favored Noted  settled in the back of the pack but never fired into the slow pace, finishing seventh of eight.

Bred by Skyfall Thoroughbreds, First World War was purchased by Hunter Valley Farm for $285,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale before being an RNA at $135,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He has now earned $266,313 for his owners with a record of 2-2-0 from five starts.