Concrete Rose Takes Control in Florida Oaks
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Photo: SV Photography
Concrete Rose wins the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs
Ashbrook Farm and BBN Racing's Concrete Rose emerged victorious in her sophomore debut March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs, earning the second graded score of her career in the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3T).
"This was a big one to get out from under her, to come off a layoff and carrying top weight (of 123 pounds)," said trainer Rusty Arnold. "I was worried she was a little bit hyper in the paddock, which she's never been, but she had never shipped, so I think we can handle that when we get back to Keeneland. This was a quality bunch."
Sent off at odds of 3-1, the 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy settled three wide in the 1 1/16-mile turf race behind Winter Sunset and leader Mega Fortune. Stalking the pace on the outside under jockey Julien Leparoux, the filly dropped back into fourth as the field hit the half-mile in :48.54.
Still in the lead by one length as the 11-horse field reached the six-furlong point in 1:13.10, Mega Fortune dug in as they entered the far turn and dueled with Winter Sunset for the lead as Concrete Rose rallied to challenge on the outside.
Concrete Rose took command by a half-length after moving three-wide into the stretch, followed closely by Mega Fortune, who began to fade. Powering home, Concrete Rose managed to hold her half-length advantage to the wire as Blowout moved up between horses for second. The final time was 1:43.02 over a turf rated firm.
"She put me in the race nicely and we went pretty quick the first quarter, but we slowed it down very good the second part of the race," said Leparoux. "She was so relaxed, and she does whatever you want with her, so I sat there and made one run and she had a nice kick at the end. She is a nice filly, and she was still going at the finish."
Concrete Rose had not raced since her off-the-board finish in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs. Arnold said he hasn't decided on the next target for the filly, but added he was pleased the time off seemed to rejuvenate her will to win.
"This is going to probably take something out of her, so we might wait until Churchill Downs (for her next start)," Arnold said. "I'm going to let her tell me. She hadn't been out in four months, but she is a talented filly and she has acted like a talented filly from day one, so we're very happy with her."
Bred in Kentucky by Ron Patterson out of the Powerscourt mare Solerina, Concrete Rose earned graded honors at 2 in the Oct. 10 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. She was purchased for $61,000 by David Ingordo from the consignment of White Pine Thoroughbreds to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, and has three wins from four starts with $266,750 in earnings.
Rymska Runs Down Hawksmoor in Hillsborough
One race prior, Madaket Stables, Tom Coleman, Team Hanley, and Elayne Stables' Rymska earned her first graded score of 2019 in the $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) over 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
In a textbook stalking trip, the 5-year-old Le Havre mare settled just off the pace as Hawksmoor ticked off fractions of :25.13, :49.74, and 1:13.55 through six furlongs.
Moving up along the inside rail as they entered the top of the stretch, Rymska angled out slightly into the two path to challenge a still-hard-charging Hawksmoor, skirting past her rival in the final yards to win by two lengths in 1:49.18. Hawksmoor finished second, followed by Onthemoonagain in third.
"My horse broke really well, and I let her be forwardly placed early," said winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. "I thought (Phantom Opening) was one of the horses I had to beat, so I just tried to follow her because I knew she was going to take us a long way, and when we got to the stretch, I thought I would pick them up. Everything worked out perfect. I had plenty of horse when I asked her. Chad (Brown) did a great job with her, and she was ready. I rode her with confidence and just waited until it was time, and when I asked her, she responded."
Trained by Brown, the Hillsborough was the second start of the year for Rymska, who entered off a runner-up finish in the Feb. 9 Suwannee River Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.
"Irad rode a beautiful race," Brown said. "She got a beautiful trip, and she responded well. She's been laying a little closer her last couple of starts, which I like to see, and she finished great."
The win was the fourth graded victory for Rymska since she transferred to Brown's barn in 2016 from her native France. Bred by Eric Feurtet, she holds a 7-3-1 record from 13 starts with earnings of $638,139.
The race marked the end of a chapter for Hawksmoor, who will begin a new career as a broodmare with a visit to Kitten's Joy .
"She ran her race and it's a great way to finish her career," said trainer Arnaud Delacour. "(Rymska) had beaten us once last year, so (the result) is kind of logical. (Hawksmoor) gave it her best shot and ran relaxed and finished very well."