Calder: Scandalous Act, Best Plan Yet score in Florida Stallion Stakes

MIAMI – Scandalous Act completed her sweep of the fillies’ division of the Florida Stallion Stakes with a 5 3/4-length victory over Quinnkat in Saturday’s $300,000 My Dear Girl Stakes at Calder.

But Kathleen O’Connell’s bid to become the first trainer to sweep both divisions of the Stallion Stakes fell short after My Brown Eyed Guy stopped badly and finished ninth and last behind Best Plan Yet in the $300,000 In Reality Stakes.

Scandalous Act, a homebred daughter of Act of Duty owned by Gil Campbell, got pressed early on the lead by Golden Friendships, one of three juvenile fillies trainer Bill Kaplan entered in the My Dear Girl. But despite the early challenge, jockey Eduardo Nunez managed to slow the pace to a respectable 24.28 seconds and 49.51 for the opening half-mile of the 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl.

Scandalous Act then had plenty left in the tank when roused for the drive, leaving the Kaplan trio and the remainder of the field far behind and mirroring her victories in the Desert Vixen and Susan’s Girl divisions this summer.

Quinnkat slipped along the rail to outfinish stablemate Holiday Magic by 1 3/4 lengths and give Kaplan the second- and third-place finishers. They were followed by Fantastic Voyage, Old Wives Tale, a tiring Golden Friendships, Starship Sassy, and Solitary.

Scandalous Act paid $3 after completing the distance in 1:48.23.

“Everybody does what they’ve got to do to win,” O’Connell said, referring to the early challenges from the three Kaplan fillies. “But I had faith in my filly. She’s just trained awesome and is the kind of horse that makes us all look good. When I saw [24.28 seconds], I was happy.”

O’Connell said it was too early to decide whether Scandalous Act would run next month in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

“I just want to digest and enjoy the day,” O’Connell said. “Mr. Campbell has been a trooper in the business. He really deserves it, and I was glad I was here with him and able to help him enjoy it.”

O’Connell and Campbell were not as fortunate with My Brown Eyed Guy, the winner of the Dr. Fager and Affirmed divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes. He broke slowly, rushed to contest the lead, but had little left after six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile In Reality.

Best Plan Yet, on the other hand, sat a perfect trip under jockey Jeffrey Sanchez, saving ground while tracking the early leaders before slipping through on the rail to readily assume command on the far turn. Best Plan Yet, a homebred son of Hear No Evil, quickly opened a commanding advantage, then extended his lead under steady urging. He finished 5 3/4 lengths in front of the 32-1 Purchango, with We’re All Set another 3 1/2 lengths back in third.

Best Plan Yet, owned by his breeder, Fred Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm, covered the distance in 1:47.90 and returned $5.60.

“I expected him to run well but never thought he’d run away like that,” trainer Stanley Gold said. “I never thought it would be that easy, but he got through when he wanted to get through. He had his way, and that doesn’t always happen. We’ve been waiting and looking forward to running him around two turns, and the dam side is all turf, so there’s still more to come. I’m real happy he’s moving forward, and if he ever levels off, he’s still got a high action; he’ll probably be running even better.”

Gold said he would let Brei make the decision as to whether Best Plan Yet would be sent to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.