Domain Expertise up in the nick of time to take the Florida Oaks

Domain Expertise overcame a seemingly insurmountable lead in the final furlong, ultimately wearing down the 4-5 favorite Jouster in the final stride to capture the Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.

Domain Expertise raced mid-pack in the run down the backstretch, advanced readily three wide on the second turn yet appeared destined for second money settling into the stretch when still four lengths behind the leader, who was still going fairly easily. But jockey Antonio Gallardo never gave up, putting Domain Expertise under a vigorous drive through the final furlong, and the daughter of Kitten’s Joy responded with a late burst of speed that got her nose in front in the shadow of the wire.

Jouster quickly sprinted to the lead, posting a quick 22.98 opening quarter-mile split before getting a bit of a breather while slowing the pace down to 47.60 for the half. She settled into the stretch with a comfortable advantage but could not withstand the winner’s final surge. Oyster Box rallied to finish third, another 2 1/2 lengths behind Jouster.

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Chad Brown trains Domain Expertise, who was third in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Park in her 3-year-old debut for Klaravich Stables. She ran a mile and one-sixteenth over a firm turf course in 1:41.12 and paid $12.80 as the second choice in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies.

“I think I had a pretty good trip. She felt comfortable all the way around,” said Gallardo. “Really, when I put her in the clear, she exploded. She exploded like a good filly.

“I was trying my hardest and you’re not thinking about [whether you’re going to catch Jouster, the pacesetter], you’re thinking about riding your horse and trying to catch her. That’s it. I asked Luis [Saez, on Jouster] ‘What do you think?’ and he said ‘I don’t know.’ It was so close.”