Jerkens pulls off stakes double

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Allen Jerkens proved he's still quite the ladies man after sending out a pair of fillies, Swap Fliparoo and Any Limit, to win the $150,000 Sabin and $150,000 Hurricane Bertie handicaps, both Grade 3's, Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Swap Fliparoo rallied from off a hotly contested pace that included even-money favorite Oonagh Maccool en route to a convincing 6o1/4-length victory in the one-mile Sabin. A daughter of Exchange Rate, Swap Fliparoo overtook the tiring leaders nearing the eighth pole and drew away with authority under jockey Javier Castellano.

Getcozywithkaylee could not stay with Swap Fliparoo but outlasted Classy Charm by a head to finish second. Oonagh Maccool broke a step slowly, recovered to contest the pace along the rail, but had little left once leaving the final turn and finished fifth in her first start since the Grade 1 Go for Wand on July 30.

Swap Fliparoo covered the mile in 1:37.73 over a fast track and paid $7.40. Swap Fliparoo, a homebred owned by Hobeau Farm, captured the Grade 1 Test Stakes last year at 3.

"I don't let myself get too confident, but both fillies were doing well," said Jerkens. "Swap Fliparoo rated kindly, the race set up nicely for her, and Javier rode a real good race. I wasn't concerned about stretching her out to a mile as long as she'd rate."

Jerkens said he would likely stretch Swap Fliparoo out even farther, to 1 1/8 miles, for the Grade 2 Rampart Handicap on March 11.

Later on the card, Any Limit had to dig in gamely through the stretch to repulse a strong rally from My Lucky Free before posting a 1 1/4-length decision in the Hurricane Bertie.

Any Limit, who rallied from last following a tardy beginning to capture the First Lady Handicap earlier in the meet, broke alertly to contest the pace from the outset of the Hurricane Bertie. She shook off her early competition before going a half-mile, then was engaged by My Lucky Free entering the stretch. My Lucky Free drew even but could never get past, with the favored Any Limit edging clear again in late stretch.

Any Limit was ridden to victory by Rafael Bejarano. Owned by her breeder, Joseph V. Shields Jr., she ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.16 and paid $5.40.

"She showed more speed than I thought she would today, but she broke so well, and Rafael just let her stay out there," Jerkens said of Any Limit.