Groupie Doll tunes up for Hurricane Bertie

Champion Groupie Doll tuned up for a scheduled start in the $150,000

Hurricane Bertie on February 9 with a sharp five-furlong breeze at Gulfstream

Park Saturday.

Preparing for the final start of her career in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for

fillies and mares, Groupie Doll was clocked in :59 4/5 with a last quarter-mile

in just a shade over :23. The reigning champion female champion sprinter, who is

a finalist for the same honor at Saturday night's Eclipse Awards ceremony at

Gulfstream's Sport of Kings, galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 under

exercise rider Jada Schlenk.

"She had three horses in front of her, and she caught them and Jada never

moved on her," trainer Buff Bradley said. "I told Jada, 'Start her out easy and

finish.' I kinda wanted her to put in a strong work either this week or next

week. I wanted to see how she did this week and then I could adjust it for next

week. I was glad to see her breeze as strong as she did."

Bradley confirmed that the Hurricane Bertie will be the final race in a

career that includes back-to-back victories in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare

Sprint.

"She's going to run here. It makes sense. She's training here and she loves

it," Bradley said.

Bred by Bradley and his father, Groupie Doll has won 11 of 22 starts and $2.5

million. Following her second Breeders' Cup victory, the six-year-old daughter

of Bowman's Band was purchased by Mandy Pope for $3.1 million at the Keeneland

November Sale from Bradley, his father Fred Bradley, Carl Hurst and Brent Burns.

Pope has booked Groupie Doll to be bred to Tapit following the Hurricane Bertie.

Groupie Doll has run once since being purchased by Pope, finishing a troubled

fourth against males at Aqueduct on November 30 in the Cigar Mile. The Hurricane

Bertie will afford the champion mare to go out with a win.

"We're really excited about where she is at this point," Bradley said.

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