Shes Got the Look lives up to name in debut

Shes Got the Look is one of the first horses Ralph Nicks has trained for John Brunetti Sr., so he’s not quite sure what might transpire in the aftermath of the 2-year-old filly winning her career debut Thursday at Gulfstream Park by an eye-popping 16 1/4 lengths.

“I’m sure there’ll be people wanting to buy her,” Nicks said early Friday by phone from the south Florida track. “All I know is I was asked to get an insurance form on her today, so maybe that means she’ll be sticking around for a while.”

Shes Got the Look, carrying Brunetti’s Red Oak Stable silks, earned a 76 Beyer Speed Figure when finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.71 over a fast track. Leading jockey Tyler Gaffalione was aboard in the gate-to-wire triumph over seven other 2-year-old fillies.

Shes Got the Look, by the young sire Adios Charlie, was a poorly kept secret off 11 workouts, returning a mere $2.80 to win.

“She’s trained very well and came in very well schooled,” said Nicks, whose lengthy tenure as a top assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott included two winters (1995-96) at Gulfstream helping to oversee the great Cigar. “She’s smart and has a laid-back personality, and she’ll do whatever she’s asked to do. It looks like she has a chance to be a good one. The way she won, that was darned sure okay.”

Nicks said Shes Got the Look will be pointed to the second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-old fillies, the $300,000 Susan’s Girl, a seven-furlong race on Sept. 3 at Gulfstream.

Brunetti lives in semi-retirement in Ocala, Fla. For nearly 40 years, he has owned Hialeah, which three years ago this month was transformed into a casino while also hosting seasonal Quarter Horse racing. His stable is overseen by racing manager Rick Sacco.

Nicks, meanwhile, is on pace to surpass his career-high total of $2.67 million in stable earnings last year. The 49-year-old trainer has about 65 horses split between Gulfstream and Saratoga.

“Business is great, and I’m happy with my decision to base here year-round in Florida,” he said. “It’s the first time I feel like I have a permanent home. We’ve got two dogs and a cat, and life is good.”

◗ With nothing but maiden and claiming races on an 11-race card, the main attraction once again Sunday at Gulfstream is the Rainbow 6. Action began Friday at Gulfstream with a jackpot carryover of $298,058 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6, which runs Sunday from races 6-11. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for three days before another four-day week ensues Thursday.