Miss Bullistic confirms fondness for turf winning Selima
Based on her first two career starts on dirt, Miss Bullistic didn’t appear to be much of a prospect. But she has dramatically improved since trainer Hamilton Smith switched her to turf.
Lightly regarded by bettors despite scoring a daylight victory locally with a good Beyer Speed Figure of 70 three weeks ago, Miss Bullistic led a trio of longshots across the wire in Saturday’s $100,000 Selima Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.
Under Xavier Perez, Miss Bullistic ($25.40) rallied from third and made up 2 1/2 lengths in the final furlong to score by 1 1/2 lengths. She covered 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:02.94.
Unhindered, who made her first four career starts at Woodbine, rallied from 12th to finish second at 15-1, 1 1/2 lengths in front of 16-1 outsider Coco’s Wildcat, who surrendered a clear lead in deep stretch. Harlan’s Honor, favored at 2-1 on the basis of her win in the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth, finished fourth.
Smith said the change in surfaces has made a huge difference for Miss Bullistic, whose dam, Miss Lombardi, was a stakes winner on grass.
“She has more speed on grass. She’s bred for grass,” Smith said. “Her mother won the Maryland Million on grass. I hope she’s the same. She’s done a fine job sprinting so far but I want to test her long. Her daddy [Bullsbay} was a long runner.”
Smith said he will consider bringing back Miss Bullistic on Maryland Million Day on Oct. 18.
In the $100,000 Laurel Futurity, heavily favored Cyclogenisis remained perfect in two starts with a dominant victory.
Sent off at 2-5 following a fast maiden win at Saratoga last month for trainer George Weaver, Cyclogenisis ($2.80) sat third early behind pacesetter Guderian and Daystrike. When Guderian drifted out, jockey Trevor McCarthy sent Cyclogenisis up the opening on the rail and his mount took the lead entering the turn, opened up by five lengths in midstretch, and was hand-ridden to the wire. The winning time was 1:01.94.
“We just kind of went right up the rail,” McCarthy said. “I asked him and he went on well. There’s not much to say, he just annihilated this field. The trainer said to get his mind on what he’s doing and he’ll take care of it.”
One Eyed Ray, winner of a maiden race for New York-breds at Belmont Park on Sept. 10, outfinished 45-1 longshot Tazmanian Charlie for second.