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Sugar swirls into Hurricane at Gulfstream Stronach Stables' homebred SUGAR SWIRL (Touch Gold) swept to the front turning for home, poured it on through the stretch and lashed her nearest rival by 8 3/4 lengths in Sunday's $101,500 Hurricane Bertie H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The Brian Lynch trainee, who was exiting a 2 1/2-length tally in the First Lady H. (G3), solidified her status as the top distaff sprinter of the meet. With Javier Castellano in the irons, Sugar Swirl tracked the demanding pace of :22 and :44 2/5 set by Cher Ami (Lost Soldier). The eventual winner cruised up to confront the early leader on the far turn, and once she seized control, it was only a matter of how great her final margin of victory would be. After reeling off six furlongs in 1:09 2/5, Sugar Swirl continued to open up on the field en route to completing seven furlongs in 1:22 3/5 on the fast track. The 3-5 favorite returned $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10 while keying $1 exotics worth $5.20 (exacta), $10.80 (trifecta) and $36.60 (5-8-6-7 superfecta). "My filly was so sharp early in the race," Castellano said. "She was just galloping along. I hit her a couple of times just to keep her focused because she started to look around (once she took the lead). There's no question about her being able to go longer based on the way she ran today." Change Up (Distorted Humor), who was always forwardly placed, earned the best-of-the-rest title by a clear three lengths. The 4-1 runner-up gave back $3.40 and $2.60. Silver Knockers (Silver Deputy) closed mildly for third, paying $2.80 at 4-1. V. I. P. Princess (Thunder Gulch) crossed the wire in fourth in the strung-out field, followed by Cher Ami and Linda May (Arg) (Honour and Glory). Lady Marlboro (Smoke Glacken) and Bereba (Exchange Rate) were scratched. Sugar Swirl's fifth career stakes score improved her mark to 18-8-3-4, $591,124. The five-year-old mare is currently riding a three-race winning streak, having captured the Very Subtle S. for Bobby Frankel at Churchill Downs before joining Lynch in Florida. Sugar Swirl also owns triumphs in the Princess Elizabeth S. and Alyssum S., and she has placed in five stakes, notably the Endine S. (G3) and Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G3). The winner was bred in Ontario, Canada, and was the first foal produced from the multiple-stakes winning Astrapi (Distinctive Pro). Lynch mentioned that Sugar Swirl could try longer distances in the future, but her immediate target is the seven-furlong Shirley Jones H. (G2) at Gulfstream on March 22.
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