Nicks has strong hand for Florida Sire Stakes finales

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Ralph Nicks’s reputation with 2-year-olds continues to grow, both locally and nationwide. Nicks has won a finale of the Florida Sire Stakes series each of the last two seasons with Dude Fantasy (My Dear Girl, 2016) and Soutache (In Reality, 2017) before gaining national attention by sending out Caledonia Road to upset the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and win an Eclipse Award.

Nicks take center stage again Saturday on the most important 2-year-old card of the 2018 Gulfstream Park season when he sends out five starters in the two Sire Stakes finales. That group is led by Garter and Tie, the likely favorite and horse to beat in the $400,000 In Reality, which shares top billing on the marathon 14-race program with its filly counterpart, the My Dear Girl. Both races are to be decided at 1 1/16 miles.

Garter and Tie is just a half-length shy of going for a sweep of the open division on Saturday. He finished third behind stablemate Cajun Firecracker in the six-furlong Dr. Fager to open the series on Aug. 4. He avenged that setback with a half-length decision over the pacesetting Well Defined in the seven-furlong Affirmed on Sept. 1, with Cajun Firecracker finishing a tiring third.

“Distance is the key with him,” Nicks said of Garter and Tie. “The further he goes the better. I thought he might have won the first one if he didn’t get bothered, and I loved him in the seven-eighths, although he needed to dig down and run big to get by [Well Defined]. It can be hard to feel good about these 2-year-olds going a mile and one-sixteenth for the first time, but I really have a lot of confidence in him going two turns.”

Nicks’s main concern for Garter and Tie is the short run to the auxiliary finish line in races at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park.

“He’s more of a grinder down the stretch, and I’m just worried if he’ll be able to get going quick enough to catch the leaders,” said Nicks.

As for Cajun Firecracker, his chances were compromised by drawing the outside post position in the 12-horse In Reality field.

“The post won’t help, and I do have some concerns about two turns with him,” said Nicks. “I guess we’ll find out on Saturday.”

For her part, trainer Kathleen O’Connell is confident Well Defined will be able to handle the 1 1/16 miles in his rematch with Garter and Tie.

“He has a wonderful stride, so I believe he’ll be fine with the two turns,” O’Connell said. “He’s always been rambunctious and exhibited a lot of natural speed. I was just hopeful we’d be able to channel that in the right direction, and he seems to have become a lot more focused with experience.”

Well Defined is likely to face considerable early pressure in the In Reality, especially with speedy rivals like Fully Loaded and Cajun Firecracker having drawn to his outside.

Other key contenders in the In Reality include First and Three, a nine-length winner of his only start, and Dakota’s Dude, who returns to the main track following his victory on turf in the Proud Man Stakes.

Nicks plans to run his top 2-year-old filly prospect Graceful Princess next Saturday at Belmont Park in the Frizette with the hope of getting back to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. In the My Dear Girl, he will start R Prerogative, Awesome Hills, and Myrrh in a field of 12.

R Prerogative and Awesome Hills each is coming off an impressive maiden win, while Myrrh finished third in her only start.

“I truly believe at some point in her career R Prerogative will like the distance, I’m just not sure if it’s right now,” Nicks said. “But she’s got a high cruising speed and should be forwardly placed throughout.

“Awesome Hills split horses and got a good schooling the first time, although obviously this is a different level for her. Myrrh is inexperienced, but she’s very smart, and I think she’ll like two turns.”

The first eighth of a mile figures to be the key for Cookie Dough, who drew the outside post and is the likely favorite in the My Dear Girl. She registered a 6 1/2-length victory over Starship Nala and Blazing Brooke in the seven-furlong Susan’s Girl.

Cookie Dough is trained by Stanley Gold, who has won a record 19 races in the Florida Sire Stakes series. She will be ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez.

“I think she can go two turns,” Gold said. “She can be wherever Jeffrey wants her, and we hope she finishes strong like last time. The last race was seven furlongs. When you’re done with the race and gallop out strong, you’re solid for two turns.”

Starship Nala and Blazing Brooke, who was carried extremely wide turning for home in the Susan’s Girl, loom the key contenders along with the Nicks trio.