Seminole Chief springs upset to take FSS In Reality

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Seminole Chief’s unorthodox route to the finale of the open division of the rich Florida Sire Series began with a victory at Finger Lakes and ended in the winner’s circle Saturday at Gulfstream Park after the 12-1 outsider registered a game half-length victory over Secret Lover in the $300,000 In Reality Stakes. Bentornato finished another half-length farther back in third as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite, while failing in his quest to complete a sweep of the series.

Seminole Chief launched his career with an eight-length maiden special weight victory going five furlongs at Finger Lakes on September 11. He shipped to south Florida shortly thereafter to prepare for the Sire Series, finishing a distant sixth behind Bentornato in the seven-furlong Affirmed making his local debut on Oct. 21. Jack Sisterson, who trained the son of Girvin for the partnership of breeder Brad Grady and David Grund, put blinkers on Seminole Chief for the first time in the 1 1/16-miles In Reality.

With Paco Lopez aboard, Seminole Chief was alert to begin, prompting the early pace of Affirmed runner-up Mattingly before sticking his head in front midway on the second turn. The two early leaders were engaged three wide at that point by the heavy favorite, but Seminole Chief dug in gamely, never relinquishing his lead despite failing to switch off his left lead the entire length of the stretch.

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Secret Lover, who entered the race a maiden after six previous starts, raced far back during the early stages before finishing best of all down the center of the track only to fall just short with his closing surge. Bentornato, undefeated in four starts coming into the In Reality, checked back briefly off the early leaders in the run to the first turn but had little excuse in the end, hanging through the final furlong while attempting to stretch out beyond seven panels for the first time on Saturday.

Mattingly gradually weakened to finish fourth, another 1 1/4 lengths behind Bentornato. He was followed in turn by Lasso, Cajun Fool, and Brawn, who was eased to the wire.

Seminole Chief completed the distance in 1:45.59 seconds and paid $27.00 while earning a first prize of $180,000 for his second win in four starts.

“I have to give all the credit to the owners of this horse,” said Sisterson. “We didn’t want to debut at Saratoga and finish fifth or sixth. So we said let’s go to Finger Lakes, hope he can win impressive, and give him a good education. He’s a Florida-bred, so after that we decided to ship him down to Gulfstream. It didn’t quite work out in his last race [Affirmed]. It was the first time he got dirt in his face and he backed out of there. But the owners said lets shoot for the two-turn race, he’s bred to go that long, and it all worked out. I promise you this horse never would have won this race today if they hadn’t allowed me to run him at Finger Lakes first.”

Jose D’Angelo, who trains Bentornato, made no excuses for his horse in defeat.

“He had a perfect trip. I can’t say anything about the trip that he had,” D’Angelo offered. “The other horse was just better today. I think maybe [it was] the distance. We’re going check him when we get back and regroup. He ran hard. He only lost by a length. We’ll get him back and check him out and go from there.”

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