Marketsegmentation gets up in time in Sand Springs Stakes
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Marketsegmentation overcame a wide trip and a slow pace to just get up in the final strides to win the $150,000 Sand Springs Stakes by a neck over Princess Theorem at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Marketsegmentation was pulling a bit early while racing about three lengths behind a pedestrian pace set by Love in the Air, who went a half-mile in 50.11 seconds.
Ortiz felt Princess Theorem, who was in the second flight of horses, was the one to beat, so he was following that horse until the top of the stretch. Turning for home, Ortiz swung Marketsegmentation out and set sail for Princess Theorem who wasn’t stopping. Ortiz finally got Marketsegmentation to and by Princess Theorem in time.
“The pace was a little slow, I was in a tight spot, I didn’t want to give up the position,” said Ortiz, who won four of the first 10 races on Saturday’s 14-race card. “She gave me a good kick then she stayed a little bit there and the other filly kept fighting. I think the slow pace helped the other filly. I never hit her, I showed her the stick and she gave me a good feeling she was going to go by her.”
Marketsegmentation, a 4-year-old daughter of American Pharoah owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.13 and returned $3.40 to win.
Princess Theorem finished second by one length over Love in the Air, who was followed in the order of finish by Cafe Society, Sweet Enough, Kahiko, Souper Hoity Toity, Perseverancia, and Arm Candy. Jouza was scratched.
Breath Away takes Sanibel Island
Breath Away demonstrated a powerful turn of foot that carried her from next-to-last to first by 2 1/2 lengths in the $100,000 Sanibel Island Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Reserved near the back of the pack after breaking slow under Jose Ortiz, Breath Away saved ground following stablemate and race favorite Love Appeals to the top of the lane. Taken off the rail by Ortiz, Breath Away found room in three path and motored past the leaders to win drawing away.
In a close battle for second, Metaphysical got it by a nose over Mohawk Trail who was a neck in front of Love Appeals. Aunt Shirley, Lady Hamilton, Riding Pretty, She’s a Joy, and Faccia Bella completed the order of finish. Mrs. Astor was scratched.
The win was the second stakes on the card for trainer Christophe Clement and fourth win on the card for Jose Ortiz, who was riding the filly for the first time. Joel Rosario, aboard for Breath Away’s first two starts, rode stablemate Love Appeals.
“She showed a good turn of foot the first two times but today was extremely impressive,” Ortiz said. “Today, she showed it better than the last two times.”
Ortiz said he wanted to be closer to the pace than he was early on, “but I couldn’t,” he said. “I just sat back there and waited for the right time and when I asked her to go she was there for me.”
Breath Away, an English-bred daughter of Bated Breath owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, covered the 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:29.90 and returned $7.20 as the second choice.
“She was impressive, huh?” Clement said. “We always liked her. We ran her on Tapeta last time, that was a question mark. I was a bit disappointed, but today she really exploded.”
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