Brown continues to dominate as Dolce Zel edges Spicer in Florida Oaks

Trainer Chad Brown’s dominance of the 2021-22 Tampa Bay Downs meet was evident again in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks after Dolce Zel ran down stablemate Spicer in late stretch to register a head victory for another one-two finish for the barn.

Earlier in the day, Brown also sent out the first two finishers in the Grade 2 Hillsborough.

Dolce Zel, making her U.S. debut and first start since winning her maiden at Longchamp five months ago, benefitted from an absolutely perfect trip orchestrated by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. Dolce Zel saved ground while kept within easy striking distance of the early leaders, eased out for clearance entering the stretch, changed leads on cue upon settling for the drive, stuck her head in front of Spicer a sixteenth out before maintaining the advantage under strong handling.

Spicer, also making her 3-year-old debut and coming off a maiden win at Aqueduct in November, was game in defeat as the tepid 2-1 favorite. With Ortiz’s brother Jose in the saddle, Spicer stalked the pace of the 70-1 Princess Elin, gained command when ready on the final bend, edged clear, dug in bravely upon being headed by her stablemate near midstretch, but was second-best. It was another 1 1/2 lengths farther back to On Alert, who rallied mildly to finish third while never menacing the Brown duo.

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Dolce Zel, a French-bred daughter of Zelzal, completed 1 1/16 miles over a “good” turf course in 1:44.18. She paid $8.00.

"I had a perfect trip," Irad Ortiz said. "I was in beautiful position going into the first turn. Up the backside I followed the horse to beat, and that was the other filly for Chad (Spicer), so I had her like a target.

"By the (far) turn it looked like I was in good position and ready to roll, but Chad told me that when she makes the lead early she can wait on horses. So I was ready for that. When she hit the lead, she kind of waited a little bit for the other horses so I hit her one time and she responded very well. She was ready today and she did everything right. She responded to everything I asked her to do and she looks like a nice filly.”