Vous Tries to End Streak in The Very One

(from Gulfstream Park notes)
Often close but still winless in her last 13 starts, trainer Tim Hills is hoping that Sunday's $100,000 The Very One Handicap (gr. IIIT) for fillies and mares on the turf provides the key that allows Vous to reach the winner's circle at Gulfstream Park.

"If you had told me 13 months ago that this filly would still be winless at this point I'd have said you were crazy," said Hills. "Some horses don't want to win. I know that's not the case with this one, but then again, we've been waiting and saying 'c'mon, anytime now.'"

Vous is one of 13 entered in the 1 3/8-mile The Very One. Twelve can start. She breaks from the rail with Joe Bravo aboard.

The 4-year-old daughter of Wild Rush missed visiting the winners circle 10 times last year, but finished second or third in half of those starts. She hasn't won since taking the Hollywood Wildcat Stakes at Calder in Nov. 2003. Since then she has raced in four graded stakes and only once has she lost by more than five lengths.

Hills remains high on Vous, but he says her running style has been part of why she's taken the collar in her last 13 races.

"She's one of those one-paced grinders," he said. "That's why we're looking at this race. She needs all the distance and has no problem with the turf. And it's a grade III. There aren't a lot of races like that for her."

Galloping Gal is another who should relish the 11-furlong distance. She gets a chance to finish what she started when a fast-closing fifth in the Suwannee River Handicap (gr. IIIT) Feb. 12.

"We're really excited about running her at that distance," said McPeek. "She should love it. The only thing I'm not sure of is the pace. In those distance races, the pace can be tricky. Sometimes they turn into sprints. It won't be blistering and she needs a pace to run at, but maybe she'll be a little closer to the lead because of that."

Edgar Prado gets the call.

German-bred Binya, who won The Very One last year, finished sixth in the Suwannee River in her last.

$100,000 The Very One Handicap (gr. IIIT), fillies & mares 3 & up, 1 3/8 miles (turf)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Vous (FL), 113, Joe Bravo
2. Honey Ryder (KY), 114, John Velazquez
3. High Court (BRZ), 115, Javier Castellano
4. Binya (GER), 116, Eibar Coa
5. Savedbythelight (KY), 115, Cornelio Velasquez
6. Krasnaya (KY), 112, Christopher DeCarlo
7. Galloping Gal (KY), 114, Edgar Prado
8. Coquinerie (KY), 112, Eddie Castro
9. Noble Stella (GER), 114, Jose Santos
10. Old Fashion Girl (VA), 112, Jerry Bailey
11. Royal Sweetpea (KY), 112, Jorge Chavez
12. Skip Command (FL), 112, Manoel Cruz
also eligible
13. Briviesca (GB), 112, Jerry Bailey