Front-Runner Dogwood Trail Blossoms in Azalea
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Dogwood Trail blazed her way to the first stakes win of her career, capturing the $150,000 Azalea Stakes (gr. III) on the Summit of Speed card July 5 at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Stanley Gold, Jacks or Better Farms' homebred Awesome of Course filly covered the seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies in 1:22.12 on a fast track. In the process, she turned the tables on 3-2 favorite Huasca, the runner-up to whom she finished second last time out in the restricted Tangelo Handicap June 6 at Gulfstream.
Dogwood Trail was pressed for the early lead by Fond of Sarah and Warriorscmoutoplay while clocking strong fractions :22.88 and :45.50 for the first half-mile.
Huasca moved up from sixth to challenge the leader in early stretch, but Dogwood Trail blew off that bid and surged clear for jockey Jesus Rios to get the win. Huasca pursued in vain as Dogwood Trail crossed the line 1 1/4 lengths in the clear, paying 8.20, $3.80, and $3.20 at 3-1 odds. Husasca, $2.80 and $2.20, finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher I'm a Looker, who returned $4.80 to show.
"Last time they went head and head," Gold said of the winner's rivalry with Huasca. "This time, they backed off a little bit and she was able to control things. When (Huasca) came, I said, 'Uh oh, she's got a full head of steam,' but (Dogwood Trail) had enough left."
Rios said the plan was to get out in front and stay on top.
"She ran beautifully," he said.
Florida-bred Dogwood Trail, who is out of the stakes-winning Tactical Advantage mare Ladyinareddress, has a 3-2-0 record from six career starts that also includes her runner-up finish in the Any Limit Stakes in March at Gulfstream. She has lifetime earnings of $180,510 in two seasons.
Fond of Sarah was fourth, followed by Sweet Swingin, Moment of Delight, Distinta, Warriorscmoutoplay, and Joni Gail to complete the order of finish.