Trainers Dobles, Baxter score their first graded stakes wins

Georgina Baxter and Elizabeth Dobles now share even more in common.

They’re women who have made a pretty solid dent in the male-dominated training ranks at Gulfstream Park in the last year or two. Remarkably, they notched the first graded wins of their respective careers within a couple of hours of each other Saturday at the South Florida track when Lady’s Island dominated the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl for Baxter and War Story captured the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday for Dobles.

With their parents employed in the industry, both got into racing at a very young age – Baxter in England, Dobles in upstate New York. Both built lengthy résumés under established trainers before moving to Florida and opening their own stables in recent years – Dobles won her first race in October 2016, and Baxter won her first in July 2018.

Through last weekend, Dobles had registered 77 wins, including four non-graded stakes, and Baxter had 65 wins (six non-graded). Both of their year-round Florida stables have been growing steadily, and their most influential clients had a hand in their career breakthroughs Saturday.

War Story is owned in part by the Imaginary Stables of South Philadelphia businessman John Guarnere, who said an invitation to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 25 likely would be welcome when asked about a possible next start. Guarnere co-owns the 7-year-old gelding with Glenn Ellis.

War Story now has had 10 (yes, 10) different trainers in a 38-race career dating to November 2014. The Harlan’s Holiday was his first start since Dobles took over his training in October.

“It was really exciting because I didn’t expect it,” said Dobles, 29. “Winning any race is exciting, but I especially love doing well for these owners, so to win a Grade 3 for them was just great.”

Lady’s Island is owned in part by Bradenton, Fla., masonry specialist Rich Averill, for whom the speedy mare now has won 9 of 11 starts since being claimed for $30,000 in June 2018. Matties Racing Stable also is part-owner in the 5-year-old Florida-bred.

Lady’s Island could make her next start in the Grade 2 Inside Information on the Pegasus undercard, said Averill, although “I’m not really sure we want to run her that far,” referring to the seven-furlong distance. “We’ll decide something in the next couple of weeks.”

Lady’s Island ran the opposition off their feet in winning the six-furlong Sugar Swirl by 6 3/4 lengths.

“It’s amazing,” said Baxter, 45. “Everyone always says they have fast fillies, but they’re not going faster than this one. She’s just super quick.”

◗ A couple of starter-optional races will serve as nominal highlights on a 10-race Thursday card that will have another big jackpot offering in the 20-cent Rainbow 6, assuming it’s not swept the previous day by a solo winning ticket.

First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the co-features (races 7 and 9) being part of the Rainbow 6 sequence that spans races 5 to 10. A five-day week began Wednesday with a carryover of $543,690.

◗ The lone stakes this coming weekend at Gulfstream is the Grade 3, $100,000 Mr. Prospector, a seven-furlong race for which Imperial Hint will ship in from Tampa Bay Downs as a heavy favorite in a short field. Entries for the Saturday race were to be drawn Wednesday.

◗ Gulfstream will maintain its normal racing schedule for the upcoming holidays with the exception of going dark on Christmas (Dec. 25).