|
|
Teammate turns the tables in Bonnie Miss Showing what a difference a fast track makes, Joseph Allen's homebred TEAMMATE (A.P. Indy) led every step of the way to post a commanding six-length victory in Sunday's $150,000 Bonnie Miss S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. With Cornelio Velasquez in the irons, the Allen Jerkens trainee completed the 1 1/8 miles in a sharp 1:48 1/5 to earn her first stakes score. In doing so, Teammate comprehensively turned the tables on even-money favorite Wait a While (Maria's Mon), who had defeated her by 14 lengths in their last start, the Davona Dale S. (G2), on a sloppy track. Velasquez wasted no time in hustling Teammate to the front right from the gate, and the gray sophomore strode out to a cozy one-length advantage over a tracking Wait a While through early fractions of :23 4/5 and :48. Wait a While then took a run at the pacesetter, getting to within a half-length through six furlongs in 1:12, but Teammate was gliding along smoothly and telegraphed that she had more up her sleeve. Coming out of the turn, Teammate spurted clear, was in front by 3 1/2 after a mile in 1:36, and kept adding to her margin through the stretch. Wonder Lady Anne L (Real Quiet) rallied to outduel Wait a While by a head for second, and it was another 7 3/4 lengths back to Smart N Pretty (Elusive Quality) in fourth. "It was pretty easy," winning rider Velasquez said. "She relaxed for me. At the quarter pole I had a lot of horse. I never hit her. She won easy today." "I didn't think she'd be on the lead," Jerkens said, "but I didn't tell Cornelio (Velasquez) what to do. I left it up to him." Jerkens also commented on Teammate's running on the anti-bleeder medication Lasix for the first time. "We put her on Lasix because we thought it would help her a little bit. She's such a very, very small horse, and she bled just a little amount, but we figured next time it could be much worse." As the 5-1 third choice, Teammate returned $12.40, $6.40 and $4 while spearheading $1 exotics worth $31.60 (exacta), $87.40 (trifecta) and $366.30 (2-3-7-1 superfecta). Wonder Lady Anne L paid $7.80 and $4.20, while Wait a While gave back $2.40 to show. Better Now (Thunder Gulch) crossed the wire fifth, 7 1/4 lengths ahead of Mia's Reflection (Halo's Image), who was another 10 1/4 lengths in front of 5-2 second choice French Park (Ecton Park). Bred in Kentucky, Teammate is the third foal -- and third stakes winner -- from multiple stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Starry Dreamer (Rubiano). Teammate's three-quarter brother, Ecclesiastic (Pulpit), captured last year's Jaipur H. (G3). Her half-brother War Front (Danzig) took the Princelet S. in 2005, and this Gulfstream meet, has finished second in the Mr. Prospector H. (G3) and Deputy Minister H. (G3). Starry Dreamer was barren for two years after producing Teammate, but she foaled a colt by Giant's Causeway this year. In her only previous stakes appearance, Teammate finished a distant second in the sloppy Davona Dale. Her record now stands at 7-2-3-1, and her bankroll has more than doubled to $151,486. Jerkens is uncertain of his pupil's future targets. "It looks like she'll go a distance," the trainer said. "I have no idea what might be next. I would prefer the Acorn (G1) (June 10 at Belmont Park), but it's just nice to win one, and you always hope they stay sound."
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
