Atomic Blonde spurts clear, holds off slow-starting favorite Mitchell Road

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Before a flurry of graded action got under way Saturday on Pegasus World Cup Day at Gulfstream Park, a trio of ungraded stakes run over firm turf served as lead-ins to the more high-profile events.

South Beach: Atomic Blonde holds off troubled favorite
A perfect trip trumped a highly imperfect one as Atomic Blonde got first run on the troubled favorite, Mitchell Road, in winning this $150,000 race by 1 1/2 lengths.

“Beautiful, beautiful,” said Javier Castellano, who rode Atomic Blonde for trainer Todd Pletcher in holding off Mitchell Road, the even-money choice. The 4-year-old filly by the late Scat Daddy returned $13 after finishing 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:28.03.

Always well spotted when saving ground on both turns, Castellano urged Atomic Blonde through an inside opening after swinging for home. The chestnut filly responded by surging clear for her third victory, and her first in a stakes, from five career starts for her breeders, John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services.

“I took advantage, took the easy way,” said Castellano. “I sit there, took my shot, cut the corner. It was a wonderful race.”

Mitchell Road was expected to be among the front flight, but she got away tardily and had only one of her 11 rivals beaten into the first turn. She persevered to get second by a neck from third-place finisher La Feve.

Ladies’ Turf Sprint: Jean Elizabeth wins sixth straight
Trainer Larry Rivelli wasn’t on hand to see his latest stable star, Jean Elizabeth ($7.60), post her sixth straight victory in this $150,000 race, only because he can’t be two places at once.

“I’m watching my son play hockey in Youngstown, Ohio,” Rivelli said by phone shortly after Jean Elizabeth wore down the front-running favorite, Girls Know Best, to prevail by a half-length under Irad Ortiz Jr. “What a mare, huh? I’ve always thought she’d like the turf, and she came out firing.”

Making her first start over the grass after going 12 for 18 on dirt and synthetic, Jean Elizabeth finished the five-furlong distance in 55.26 seconds. The gray 5-year-old mare was bred in Illinois by Rivelli and longtime client Richard Ravin, and they own her in partnership with Patricia’s Hope LLC.

Girls Know Best, ridden by Jose Ortiz, finished two lengths before third-place finisher Keota in a field of nine.

World of Trouble Turf Sprint: Texas Edge up in time
Peter Miller knows something about these kinds of races, having won the last three runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Still, the California-based trainer and his clients and staff were all smiles and fist-pumps after Texas Wedge ($11.80) edged Carotari in the final yards of this $150,000 race, finishing five furlongs in 55.84 seconds.

“He’s a great little gelding,” said a beaming Miller. “I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Coming from mid-pack in a field of eight under Flavien Prat, Texas Wedge registered his sixth victory from 14 races and his second stakes in a row, having won the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez at Santa Anita in his prior start. The 5-year-old Colonel John gelding is owned by a four-way partnership.

Shekky Shebaz, the 1-2 favorite, had some trouble en route to finishing fourth from post 1, including losing third to Fielder when taking a couple of awkward steps near the wire.