Fighting Force's patience pays off in Not Surprising Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - All trainer Jeff Engler has been asking for of late was a clean trip for his 3-year-old turf specialist Fighting Force, who had encountered trouble of one sort or another in each of his last three starts.

Engler got his wish at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, with Fighting Force rating off a contentious pace before exploding to an impressive 3 1/2-length victory in the $75,000 Not Surprising Stakes. Perfect Silent Cat, far and away the longest price in the field at 23-1, also took advantage of the duel up front between Bright Devil and 6-5 favorite King of Dreams, rallying from last to easily be second-best while never menacing the winner.

Fighting Force had chased home King of Dreams in each of his previous two starts. Under allowance conditions on June 4 when racing near the rear of the field off a dawdling pace, and in the English Channel on May 8 when beaten just two lengths despite a wide trip. But with new rider Samy Camacho aboard, Fighting Force couldn’t have enjoyed a more perfect setup in the Not Surprising.

Camacho rated Fighting Force within easy striking distance of the embattled leaders, who set relatively quick fractions of 23.28 and 47.50 over the “yielding” turf course. Fighting Force moved readily when roused outside horses on the final turn, easily overtook the leaders into the stretch before increasing his advantage and kept about his business to the end.

Perfect Silent Cat steadied to last after the start, lagged behind the field for over six furlongs before rallying to finish four lengths clear of the tiring Bright Devil. Fulmini finished fourth, followed by the tiring King of Dreams and Sigiloso.

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Fighting Force is a son of Air Force Blue owned by Lea Farms LLC. The winner completed the one-mile distance in 1:38.18 and returned $14.60.

“I never lost any confidence in him but honestly, those last three races he got awful trips,” Engler said. “He got stuck on the rail, got in behind horses and couldn’t go anywhere. He tried to make a move, but by the time he got clear, it was too late. Today, Samy said he’s going to be patient and just wait, wait wait, and it worked out perfect. There was a lot of speed in front of us, the horse got a good trip and he just kicked on for him. It’s nice when you dial it up and it actually happens.”

Engler said Fighting Force will likely make his next start on the West Coast.

“I’m taking a small string out to Del Mar for the summer, maybe seven or eight horses, so we’ll look for something for him out there next,” Engler said.