Sing Praises Noses Out In Reality Photo
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Jacks or Better Farm's homebred Sing Praises nosed out Royal Squeeze Oct. 4 to win the $372,000 In Reality Division of the Florida Sire Stakes Series for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park .
Ridden by Ramsey Zimmerman, Sing Praises stalked the early pacesetters while fourth along the rail and began to move approaching the quarter pole. Taking command at the head of the stretch, the colt kicked clear at the eighth pole and then held off a tenacious Royal Squeeze.
Trained by Stanley Gold, Sing Praises improved his record to three wins and two seconds from five starts. He paid $13.60, $6.80, and $4.60, while Royal Squeeze was worth $7.80 and $6.60. Honor Earned returned $5.60 while finishing 4 1/2 lengths back in third. The final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:45.79.
A son of Hear No Evil produced from the Awesome of Course mare Sacred Psalm, Sing Praises was coming off a second-place finish to stablemate Twotwentyfive A in the Affirmed division of the series Sept. 6 at seven furlongs. Sing Praises had already accounted for the Dr. Fager division in the series' first race and also won the Birdonthewire Stakes at Gulfstream in July. Previously undefeated Twotwentyfive A finished fourth when trying the In Reality.
"I told you last time it wasn't the distance," Gold said. "He just thought he had it. He (Ramsey Zimmerman) rode him smart today and had it when he needed it. I left Ramsey alone and said, 'Ride it like you see it.' I couldn't tell (who won it) Looking at the other one, his head was higher up and ours was down. I couldn't tell. I'm always doom and gloom in those situations, unless it's obvious. I couldn't tell."
"Man, that was exciting," Zimmerman said. "You know, I was so disappointed the last time he ran. I must have watched the tape 30 times. My plan today was to take him to the lead and let them try and beat him but it didn't work out that way. But today he fought all the way. He stuck his head out at the right time at the finish."
In the $358,000 My Dear Girl Stakes division earlier on the card, the respective first- and second-place finishers in the Sept. 6 Florida Sire Susan's Girl Stakes at Gulfstream again finished in that order as Tracy Pinchin's homebred Holywell rolled to a front-running 1 1/4-length victory over Moment of Delight .
Despite the Susan's Girl result, Moment of Delight was sent off as the 8-5 favorite in the My Dear Girl and chased 4-1 third choice Holywell through fractions of :24.96, :50.58, and a pedestrian 1:14.85 for six furlongs. They completed the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.08, well off the track record of 1:40.97.
With the two Florida Sire series victories, the Florida-bred daughter of Exclusive Quality has won three of five starts and earned $400,225 for trainer Jose Pinchin, husband of the owner-breeder.
The winner, ridden by Orlando Bocachica, paid $10.20, $4.60, and $3.40. Moment of Delight was worth $3.20 and $2.80. Awesome Ice finished third, nine lengths behind the runner-up, paying $3.80.
"She ran exactly the way I expected her to run," Pinchin said. "Last time, she fought seven furlongs straight. She didn't get an easy lead. I knew she was going to get an easy lead this time."
Pinchin said the filly would be aimed at the Delta Princess (gr. III) at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel Nov. 22.
Holywell is out of the Gold Case mare All Saint’s Day, who has also produced stakes winner Sinister Brew for her breeders.