Speak Easy surprises Victory Avenue for maiden victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - In a maiden race for 3-year-olds with several highly touted first-time starters, it was the less-heralded Speak Easy who scored a 1 3/4-length win over the favored firster Victory Avenue at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking from the rail in a field of 11 under Irad Ortiz Jr., Speak Easy, coming out of the chute, was moved to sit second, right off Victory Avenue, who broke inward before being hustled to the front. Speak Easy was going easier of the pair through splits of 22.64 seconds and a half-mile in 44.61.

Speak Easy and Victory Avenue, who was late to change leads, were fighting until the sixteenth pole when Speak Easy pulled away.

Victory Avenue, the highly touted firster from the connections of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage - who won this maiden race a year ago - finished 3 3/4 lengths in front of Big City, who was making his second career start.

Speak Easy, a son of Constitution owned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm, covered seven furlongs in 1:21.96. Sent off the fifth choice in the 11-horse field, Speak Easy returned $18.60.

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“It kind of reminds me of a Travers Day maiden race,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “This colt had been training very well. Like always, a little concerned when you draw the one hole going seven-eighths. He was able to work out a really good trip, he broke alertly and moved outside the favorite.

“They were rolling right along, I don’t know how fast the track is today but [1:21.96] is a pretty good debut time no matter how the track’s playing,” Pletcher added.

Pletcher said he did not have an idea of where Speak Easy might run next, but didn’t discount him hopping on the Kentucky Derby trail.

“I guess you always hope to get there, it’s got to happen the right way,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said Speak Easy was almost ready to run last spring during the Belmont meet, but suffered a setback, which is why his debut was delayed.

Fierceness has final work for Holy Bull

Fierceness, crowned Thursday as the 2023 2-year-old champion male, worked a half-mile in 49.55 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday morning in his final serious move before he makes his 3-year-old debut in next Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes.

It was his seventh work since he returned to the worktab and came one week after he went five furlongs in 59.48 seconds.

“We were just trying to get one final steady little prep into him,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Knock on wood, he’s doing great and is ready to go.”

Entries for the Holy Bull were to be taken on Sunday.

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