Go Maggie Go sported just one prior race–a four-length success going six panels here Mar. 13–but handled the stretch out and steep step up in class to post the minor upset. Away well to press Paola Queen from the two path through a swift opening quarter in :23.09, the bay poked a head in front entering the turn after a half in :46.70. Odds-on choice and GIII Schuylerville S. winner Off the Tracks made a strong and ominous run around the home bend, but Go Maggie Go stiff-armed that rival with surprising ease and kept finding to keep the resilient Paola Queen at bay. Gomo (Uncle Mo), last seen annexing last October's GI Darley Alcibiades S., looked to be moving well along the bend before settling for fourth.
“I had a perfect trip,” offered winning pilot Luis Saez. “She broke good and was right there. When we came to the half-mile pole and I asked her, I had a lot of horse. In the stretch I thought somebody might come and get me, but when I hit her, she responded.”
Dale Romans trained the winner's dam, a $260,000 Fasig-Tipton February grad in 2002 who was second in her best finish from five tries, on behalf of owner/breeder Mike Tarp.
“She's just quality, and when they're doing as good as her and they're the quality she is, you can run in an a-other-than and win by 15 and say why didn't I run in a stake?” he said of the aggressive spotting. “There was only seven horses in here. If you run third you're worth a lot of money. If she can do that, she can win, so why not be here? We can always back up for a $50,000 pot.”
Romans won this race last year with eventual GI La Brea S. winner Birdatthewire (Summer Bird).
“It's just the way things have fallen,” he said. “I'm not that much of a planner. When the horses are doing good we run, and it's just coincidence.”
The winner will likely move on to the GI Kentucky Oaks May 6.
“We'll train her and if she's training good and doing good like she was going into this, that's the key,” Romans concluded. “You have to just know when they're doing good. She was training so good, why not take a shot?”
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
GULFSTREAM PARK OAKS-GII, $250,000, GP, 4-2, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.74, sy.
1–#@GO MAGGIE GO, 122, f, 3, by Ghostzapper">Ghostzapper
1st Dam: Magibel, by Tale of the Cat
2nd Dam: Marquetry Road, by Marquetry
3rd Dam: Road to Heaven, by Kennedy Road
O/B-Mike Tarp (KY); T-Dale L Romans; J-Luis Saez. $151,900. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $175,900. *1/2 to Wallyanna (Langfuhr), GSW, $231,214. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
[bullet ad=”beaulane-foaledandraisedwoodlineformiketarp”][bullet ad=”beaulane-congratulationsmiketarpanddaleromans”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–Paola Queen, 122, f, 3, Flatter–Kadira, by Kafwain. ($180,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Grupo 7C Racing Stable; B-CFP Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado. $49,000. [bullet ad=”hermitage-forcfpthoroughbreds”]3–Off the Tracks, 122, f, 3, Curlin">Curlin–Harve de Grace, by Boston Harbor. ($50,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP). O-Newtown Anner Stud & J Stables; B-Lee McMillin (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher. $24,500. [bullet ad=”sbmtrainingandsales-brokenandtrained”][bullet ad=”albina-private-purchase”]Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 5HF. Odds: 4.00, 4.80, 0.80.
Also Ran: Gomo, Double Entendre, Mo' Green, Hold On Momma.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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