Gozzip Girl, kicking home from the inside, collared Obsequious in deep stretch to score a half-length win in the $150,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO) on the Gulfstream Park turf March 15.
Ridden for the first time by Elvis Trujillo, an unhurried Gozzip Girl capitalized on a ground-saving trip to finish best of all in the 1 1/8-mile test of 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of Dynaformer trailed the field for the first half mile after a poor break and was timed in a solid 1:47.25 over firm going.
Favored Dream Empress (9-5), carrying top weight of 122 pounds, stalked the pace along the inside for Kent Desormeaux but gave way approaching the homestretch and finished sixth.
Tom Albertrani trains Gozzip Girl for Farnsworth Stables. The dark bay filly won Gulfstream's 1 1/16-mile Coconut Grove over the course in her prior start on Feb. 15, which was her stakes debut.
“I wasn’t sure whether I’d run her in this race after she had run here twice at the meet, but she was training so well and worked good, we decided to go," Albertrani said. "Trujillo rode a great race to come up the inside. If he goes around the other horse (Obsequious) we’re probably second. She’ll have plenty of time now until her next start, probably in the Sands Point at Belmont (May 30).”
Gozzip Girl, the second choice, tracked the leaders as Oilgonewile set the soft early splits (:24.40, :48.42, 1:11.76) while building a three-length lead early on the far turn. Obsequious, forwardly placed by Edgar Prado after the break, angled to the outside of the leaders on the turn to the get the lead in the homestretch.
Obsequious opened some daylight mid-stretch but could not hold off the advancing Gozzip Girl, who rallied along the hedge while under left-handed urging from Trujillo. Bluegrass Princess, ridden by John Velazquez, finished third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.
“She broke terribly," Trujillo said. "She was real nervous and just wanted to stay back. I didn’t force anything and just stayed back waiting for an opportunity. I was trying hard not to lose Edgar (Prado on Obsequious) and Johnny (Velazquez on Bluegrass Princess).
"She put it in another gear around the three-eighths, and when I really asked, there was plenty horse for me. I felt we had plenty more even after crossing the finish (line).”
Gozzip Girl carried 120 pounds, picking up four pounds from her Coconut Grove victory, which she won at odds of 10-1. Since a sixth-place finish to begin her career in an off-the-turf maiden heat at Belmont Park Sept. 10, Gozzip Girl has won three of four starts on the grass She picked up a winner's check of $90,000, which increased her career bankroll to $192,194.
A $60,000 yearling buy at Keeneland in September 2007, Gozzip Girl was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. She is out of Temperence Gift, by Kingmambo.
Gozzip Girl paid $7.60, $3.80 and $2.60. Obsequious, who ran third in the Coconut Grove for trainer Elizabeth Gray, returned $7.20 and $4.40 and capped a $2 exacta worth $55.80. Bluegrass Princess was $5 to show.
Fast Tigress used a mild rally to finish fourth. She was followed by Candle Maker, Guarda, Dream Empress and Oilgonewile.
