Vow Me Now, Art G Is Back face off again in Not Surprising

The 1 1/16-mile English Channel Stakes on May 4 turned out to be one of the most exciting races of the 2019 Gulfstream Park spring session, with Vow Me Now squeezing out the narrowest of decisions over hard-luck runner-up Art G Is Back. On Saturday, those two rivals will square off again on the turf, this time at a mile, in the Not Surprising Stakes, which shares top billing on the 12-race program along with its filly counterpart, the Martha Washington. Both races are restricted to 3-year-olds and offer a purse of $100,000.

Vow Me Now had to work hard to register his fourth consecutive victory in the English Channel. After prompting the early pace, Vow Me Now was shuffled back a bit awaiting clearance turning for home. Jockey Jaime Rendon had to angle the son of Broken Vow to the inside near midstretch, the pair squeezing through a small opening between horses before surging late to get the nod in the final strides.

Vow Me Now, who won his maiden while in for a $25,000 tag last fall, had won three straight starter-allowance races in similar pace-stalking fashion to open his 3-year-old campaign for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.

Art G Is Back was forced to rally wide while getting the jump on Vow Me Now on the final bend in the English Channel, holding a narrow advantage through much of the stretch before suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the shadow of the wire. Art G Is Back has made two subsequent starts and will enter the rematch off his first stakes victory in the seven-furlong Thirsty Fish, a race switched from the turf to a sloppy main track.

“I thought we had a little edge over Vow Me Now the last time,” said Ron Spatz, who trains Art G Is Back for Monarch Stables. “He was stuck on the inside, we made a clear run to get the lead outside, and then Vow Me Now exploded and we got beat a dueling nose. It was a great race by both of them and considering the trips, I’d say he was just a little better that day. Although I’d rather Vow Me Now were not in there on Saturday, and it wouldn’t break my heart if it rained and the race came off the turf, it should be a fun race with the two of them going at it again.”

Stirling Drive and Scraps, third and a very troubled eighth, respectively, in the English Channel, also will try their luck again with Vow Me Now and Art G Is Back in the Not Surprising.

The Martha Washington attracted a group of just eight 3-year-old fillies, led by Vow to Recover and Kelsey’s Cross. Vow to Recover exits a come-from-behind, 2 3/4-length triumph in the Honey Ryder on May 4. Like Vow Me Now, Vow to Recover also is by the Florida-based stallion Broken Vow. A two-time stakes winner trained by Elizabeth Dobles, Vow to Recover earned a career-best 83 Beyer Speed Figure for her effort in the 1 1/16-mile Honey Ryder.

The lightly raced Kelsey’s Cross comes off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Wonder Again behind the potent Chad Brown-trained pair of Cambier Parc and Newspaperofrecord last month at Belmont Park. The outing was just the third for Kelsey’s Cross, who began her career getting beat under a $35,000 claiming tag on April 21 before winning her maiden in explosive fashion by 7 1/2 lengths against older horses just three weeks later for trainer Patrick Biancone.