Cherry Lodge takes scratch-ridden Ladies Turf Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The tell-tale sign that Cherry Lodge had just won the Ladies’ Turf Sprint: She was clean as a whistle when standing calmly as her picture was taken in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle.

“When it’s five furlongs, you usually don’t have much to do,” said Jose Ortiz, who rode the 5-year-old Bernardini mare to a front-running, 1 3/4-length triumph Saturday in a scratch-laden, off-the-turf Ladies’ Turf Sprint on the Pegasus World Cup card.

“You just gotta break and be there.”

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Gainesway Stable, Cherry Lodge was never seriously threatened after getting the jump on four rivals, finishing five furlongs in 57.10 seconds over the sloppy going. She paid $5.60 with her first stakes victory, and her fourth overall, from 10 starts.

“We were able to break good, get a good lead, and she was there for me when I asked her turning for home,” Ortiz said.

Half of the original cast of 10, including the program favorite, Morticia, was scratched after the race was transferred to the main track. Just Talkin raced in closest pursuit throughout before finishing second, another six lengths before Razorback Lady. Then came Smiling Causeway, the 13-10 favorite, and Pastime.