Soutache Sets Record in FSS Affirmed Division

GoldMark Farm's homebred Soutache rallied from off the pace to capture the $200,000 Affirmed Division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes in record time Sept. 2 at Gulfstream Park—and in doing so became the first black-type winner for his sire, Backtalk.

One of four entrants trained by Ralph Nicks in the seven-furlong event for 2-year-old colts and geldings sired by nominated stallions standing in Florida, Soutache eclipsed Three Rules' 2016 stakes record of 1:23.89 while covering the seven-eighths of a mile in 1:22.46.

The Affirmed co-featured a 13-race program that also included the $200,000 Susan's Girl for FSS-eligible 2-year-old fillies. That race, also seven furlongs, was won by Starship Stables' Starship Bonita in 1:25.43. The bay filly by Gone Astray  is trained by Steven Dwoskin and was ridden by Carlos Montalvo.

Soutache, who finished an even third in the first leg of the FSS series, the Aug. 5 Dr. Fager Stakes, wore blinkers for the first time in the Affirmed and rated nicely off the pace for jockey Eric Cancel. World of Trouble and Nicks-trained Capital S vied for the lead along the backstretch with fractions of :22.16 and :44.84 through the first half-mile. World of Trouble, an impressive 14-length debut winner Aug. 10, took over the lead on the turn under Tyler Gaffalione and was joined on the outside by Nicks-trained Phantom Ro, the front-running winner of the Dr. Fager, as Soutache launched a far-outside bid approaching the stretch.

World of Trouble sprinted clear at the top of the stretch but brushed with the inside rail while under a heavy drive as Soutache loomed boldly. The pacesetter continued on gamely but was unable to hold off Soutache, who prevailed by a half-length for Cancel, who ventured from Saratoga Race Course to ride a few Nicks-trained horses on the Saturday card.

"I rode a couple before this one but didn't have any luck. This was worth the trip," said Cancel, who captured his first U.S. win at Gulfstream in 2015. "Ralph just said to sit behind, stalk the pace. At the half-mile pole I knew I had a lot of horse. so I just waited. As soon as I saw them start moving I just moved with them. My horse kept trying until the end."

Soutache impressed Nicks with his training since the Dr. Fager.

"His morning workouts have told me more about him than his breeding or anything else, and Backtalk was a very brilliant 2-year-old himself," said Nicks, whose winner breezed five-eighths of a mile in :59 4/5 Aug. 23 in preparation for the Affirmed.

Soutache's victory was his second in three starts. World of Trouble held second, 6 1/4 lengths ahead of Phantom Ro, the 6-5 favorite who broke through the starting gate while loading, unseating jockey Edgard Zayas, but stayed in the control of an assistant starter.

"He got stirred up a bit being in the post parade for a while and got a bit keyed up loading. Aiming for the next leg, Soutache will go and I'm sure Phantom Ro will go, and then we'll reevaluate Kingston Pike and Capital S," said Nicks. "I was surprised with (the effort of Capital S). I expected him to be back and come running late, and he did things the wrong way today, so we'll reevaluate with him."

The 2017 FSS Series will conclude Sept. 30 at Gulfstream with the $400,000 In Reality for colts and geldings and the $400,000 My Dear Girl for fillies, both to be contested around two turns at 1 1/16 miles.

"I think the Florida Sire Stakes is a great program. I call it the Florida Sire Triple Crown," Nicks said. "I mean, these horses in general won't get the opportunity to run for this much money again. With that being said, there have been some really good horses who started their careers here."

Soutache is out of the Afleet Alex  mare Granrubanbleu. His sire Backtalk stands at Bridlewood Farm near Ocala, Fla., where his 2017 fee was advertised as $3,000.