A Ralph Nicks tag team got the job done as Soutache won the $200,000 Affirmed Division of the Florida sire stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The Nicks-trained Soutache and jockey Eric Cancel sat in the catbird’s seat as stablemate Phantom Ro engaged pace-setting World of Trouble around the far turn and into midstretch, and even as World of Trouble was putting away Phantom Ro, Soutache came calling on the outside and got home by a half-length. “Ralph just said to sit behind, stalk the pace,” the New York-based Cancel said. “At the half-mile pole I knew I had a lot of horse, so I just waited. As soon as I saw them start moving I just moved with them. My horse kept trying until the end.” Soutache earned the paycheck and the glory, but World of Trouble ran at least as well as the winner. A blowout winner of a $25,000 maiden-claimer to start his career, World of Trouble subsequently was purchased by owner Michael Dubb, and despite facing much better competition Saturday, getting caught up in a hot pace, and still racing greenly, he still nearly won. Phantom Ro, the 6-5 favorite, broke from the rail and showed speed, but was out-footed to the lead by another Nicks charge, Capital S., and World of Trouble, who pressed a quick 22.16 opening quarter-mile and had taken a clear lead after a half in a taxing 44.84 seconds. Phantom Ro was worked off the fence to come three wide outside the two pacesetters, setting upon World of Trouble in earnest past the three-furlong pole and into the homestretch. Phantom Ro had won his debut and the Dr. Fager division of the sire stakes to start his career, but it was the once-raced maiden-claimer who regained the upper hand past the three-sixteenths pole. World of Trouble, ducking to the inside, actually bumped the rail, an ill-timed error as Soutache and Cancel descended. Third-time starting Soutache, third in the Dr. Fager after making a middle move and wearing blinkers for the first time Saturday, ranged into contention three wide coming into the homestretch as Cancel simply let the battle in front of him unfold. Soutache attacked as Phantom Ro could give no more, and while World of Trouble tried to counter his early and middle exertions had taken their toll. The top two finishers ran very fast, Soutache stopping the timer in 1:22.46 for the seven furlongs on a fast track. The time easily eclipsed the stakes record set last year by the excellent Three Rules, and Gulfstream’s main track did not appear especially fast-playing Saturday. Starship Bonita won the Susan’s Girl division of the sire stakes in a time of 1:25.43. Soutache was bred and is owned by GoldMark Farm, which also owned and campaigned his young sire, Backtalk, and got Soutache by mating Backtalk with the Afleet Alex mare Granrubanbleu. Soutache debuted in July winning a five-furlong maiden race, and now will surely attempt to stretch to two turns Sept. 30 in the $400,000 In Reality division of the sire stakes.