Stirling Drive comes out on top in Not Surprising Stakes

Stirling Drive had to survive late rallies from Art G Is Back and Forever Mo as well as both a stewards' inquiry and rider’s objection before being made the official winner of the roughly run Not Surprising, the first of two $100,000 turf stakes for 3-year-olds decided Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Stirling Drive had finished a tiring third when facing much the same cast of characters in the English Channel Stakes on May 4 but had run poorly in two subsequent starts, one of those races coming in the slop, the second against older horses. He had not won a race since capturing the Juvenile Turf at Gulfstream Park eight months earlier.

With jockey Samy Camacho back aboard for the first time since the English Channel, Stirling Drive attended the early pace set by the 53-1 Sovereign Warrior. Stirling Drive finally wore down the leader to gain a short advantage in early stretch then held resolutely to a narrow lead through the final furlong despite drifting slightly near midstretch. He finished a neck in front of Art G Is Back, who was a nose in front of Forever Mo, who edged Scraps by a neck.

Jeffrey Sanchez aboard Scraps lodged a claim of foul against Camacho and Stirling Drive after being forced to steady and shift paths in the stretch. The stewards spent nearly 10 minutes deliberating their decision before ultimately deciding not to change the original order of finish.

Art G Is Back, runner-up in the English Channel and winner of the Thirsty Fish Stakes over a sloppy track in his last start, lagged well off the early pace while saving ground from the outset. Still well back upon settling into the stretch, Art G Is Back finally found his best stride leaving the furlong grounds, found ample room inside the leaders to continue the bid on the rail, and outfinished Forever Mo to be second-best.

Forever Mo, stakes-placed twice earlier this season at Tampa Bay Downs, appeared full of run while looking for room approaching the stretch. He took up in traffic when forced to alter course due to the actions of Scraps near midstretch, steadied sharply again running up behind the winner shortly thereafter, then rallied belatedly once jockey Edgard Zayas was finally able to find a little seam between horses nearing the wire.

Vow Me Now, who won the English Channel and brought a four-race win streak into the Not Surprising, had no excuse, failing to kick on outside rivals through the stretch before ultimately finishing last in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

Stirling Drive, a son of Verrazano, completed a mile over firm turf in 1:36.27 and returned $23.40.

“I don’t sweat much but that [inquiry] made me sweat a little. That took a long time,” said Stirling Drive's trainer Marty Wolfson. “I said to myself 'Not after all this. The horse ran a great race’. He’s a nice little horse and the jock gave him a great ride.”

Zarina upsets Martha Washington

Zarina, who won her maiden under a $32,000 claiming tag last fall at Tampa Bay Downs, withstood a furious final rally by Red Rounder to register a 16-1 upset in the co-featured Martha Washington.

With Leonel Reyes aboard for the first time, Zarina saved ground while racing about eight lengths off the early pace of Bello Porte, swung five wide while commencing her rally into the stretch, overtook Kelsey’s Cross once finally changing leads near midstretch, then held off the closing surge from Red Rounder. The latter lagged near the rear of the field for six furlongs, moved to closer contention on the final turn, eased outside the leaders once settling into the stretch and came on with a rush to be second best.

Kelsey’s Cross, third in the Grade 3 Wonder Again one month earlier at Belmont Park, raced within easy striking distance, forged to command in early stretch but faltered under pressure through the final sixteenth. Vow to Recover, the 7-5 favorite coming off a victory in the Honey Ryder Stakes in her previous start, finished a disappointing fifth.

Zarina covered a mile over the firm course in 1:35.57, her final time .70 seconds faster than the boys completed the distance an hour earlier in the Not Surprising. A daughter of Temple City trained by Chad Stewart for owner-breeder Robert Roffey Jr., Zarina returned $34.40 for her fourth win in seven starts.

“This is a filly we’ve always liked a lot,” said Stewart who is based in Ocala, Fla. “The pace is what we worry about. Last time there was no pace. We always had this race in mind. We’ve always had stakes on our minds with this filly. She’s not real fast, but she tries hard and she never gets tired.”