Gulfstream: Pomeroys Pistol still sharp in Sugar Swirl score

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - There would be no Breeders’ Cup bounce for Pomeroys Pistol, who rallied to a two-length decision over longshot Pica Slew in Saturday’s $100,000 Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park. The outing was the first for Pomeroys Pistol since she finished fourth five weeks earlier in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Pomeroys Pistol, who won the Grade 2 Forward Gal here last winter, raced within easy striking distance of pacesetter Third Chance while allowed to save ground to the stretch by jockey Javier Castellano. Pomeroys Pistol eased out turning for home, then readily wore down Pica Slew near the sixteenth pole and won going away. Pica Slew broke a step slowly, rushed up to stalk the early leader, and edged clear leaving the turn. Strike the Moon rallied belatedly to finish third.

Pomeroys Pistol, a homebred daughter of Pomeroy, is trained by her owner-breeder Amy Tarrant. She completed six furlongs in 1:09.35 over a fast track and paid $3.60 while giving Castellano his third win on the card.

“I just turned her out on the farm and let her live large for three weeks after the Breeders’ Cup,” said Tarrant. “She showed me she was ready to go back to work. I wasn’t concerned about the fact she only had one work coming into the race. I don’t like to grind on my horses before they run. I thought she did it easily today; she wasn’t struggling out there at all. Javier knows the filly now and he has a lot of faith in her and she has a lot of faith in him.”

Tarrant said she would see how Pomeroys Pistol came out of the race before deciding on her next start, which could come in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie here on Feb. 19.