Optimizer leads throughout in Colonel Bradley

String King, a multiple stakes winner in the Louisiana-bred ranks, finished

second as the 7-2 second choice, three parts of a length ahead of 14-1 chance

Bim Bam. Completing the order of finish were Unlatch, Trend, Strike Impact,

Dubious Miss, Tetradrachm, and James Street.

Although he has made frequent visits to the main track, most successfully in

the Grade 2 Rebel last year where he finished second, and the Grade 1 Breeders'

Futurity in 2011 where he finished third, Optimizer has found his best on turf.

Second in the Grade 2 With Anticipation at two, he returned to infield

competition after competing in all three legs of the Triple Crown last term. His

first stakes win came in the Grade 3 Kent at Delaware Park in September, and he

preceded this victory with a third in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup. The

Kentucky-bred now boasts a line of 20-4-2-2, $536,942.

Optimizer's dam is the A.P. Indy mare Indy Pick, who is a half-sister to

multiple Grade 1 winner Finder's Fee and multiple Grade 1-winning steeplechaser

Tax Ruling. All were produced by Grade 1 winner Fantastic Find. Optimizer's

third dam was the noted Phipps family producer Blitey, while his third dam was

1966 champion three-year-old filly Lady Pitt.