Gulfstream Park: Fawkes gets exacta as Millennia wins Ta Wee Stakes

Millennia dug in for a half-length win over stablemate Sola Gratia in the $100,000 Ta Wee Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Miss Addison. David Fawkes trains both Millennia and Sola Gratia.

The Ta Wee, a 1 1/16-mile race run on firm turf, was restricted to fillies and mares bred in Florida.

Millennia ($26) raced several lengths off the early pace, as She’s Spooky and the favored Awesome Belle vied for the lead through fractions of 24.35 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.51 for the half-mile, and 1:12.31 for six furlongs.

Millennia advanced along the rail on the final turn, angled to the outside of horses into the stretch, and unleashed a determined bid under jockey Jesus Rios. She went on to cover the distance in 1:42.59.

Fawkes trains Millennia for Brinker Hill Farm. She is a 6-year-old mare by Milwaukee Brew and was bred by Adena Springs. Millennia is a half-sister to top-class sprinter Fatal Bullet. The Ta Wee was her first stakes win. Millennia has won 6 of 37 starts and $305,237.

The Fawkes exacta, 6-2, returned $104.60.