Lopez rides pair of 2-year-old fillies to stakes wins on Sunshine Millions Preview Day
Jockey Paco Lopez swept Gulfstream Park West’s Sunshine Millions Preview Day stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday, when he guided Compelled to a 6 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Juvenile Filly Turf and R Angel Katelyn to a mild upset in the $100,000 Juvenile Filly Sprint.
The races were among seven stakes on a card expected to produce starters for the Sunshine Millions program Jan. 21 at Gulfstream.
Compelled ($4.80) settled in third early in the Juvenile Filly Turf for Florida-breds, as Southern Sis and Magalie dueled through fractions of 24.30 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.02 for the half-mile. Compelled advanced on the final turn, kicked into high gear in the stretch, and quickly dew clear of the field while covering a mile on firm ground in 1:38.47.
Earlier on the card, the $100,000 Juvenile Turf featuring colts and geldings went in 1:39.59.
Tom Proctor trains Compelled for her breeder, Glen Hill Farm. She is a daughter of War Front. In her previous start, Compelled won a maiden special weight race going 1 1/16 miles on turf Oct. 14 at Laurel Park.
Sarah Sis finished second in the Juvenile Filly Turf, a neck in front of third-place finisher Majestic Gale.
R Angel Katelyn ($18.20) ran down favorite Wildcat Kate nearing the wire for a half-length win in the Juvenile Filly Sprint. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back in third to Rashette.
R Angel Katelyn tracked the pace in second as Wildcat Kate took the field through fractions of 21.81 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.67 for the half-mile. The pacesetter seemed home free in the stretch, but R Angel Katelyn came rolling late, covering the 6 1/2 furlongs for Florida-breds in 1:17.30.
Gerald Bennett trains R Angel Kately, a daughter of High Cotton, for the partnership of Averill Acing and CCF Racing.