NEWS
Gozzip Girl leads Dynaformer sweep in Sands Point
Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 7:28 PM
GOZZIP GIRL
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
To view the Sands Point Stakes, click here.
by Myra Lewyn
Led by Farnsworth Stables’ Gozzip Girl, a trio of fillies by Central Kentucky-based sire Dynaformer landed the top three spots in the $150,000 Sands Point Stakes (G2) on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Entering off a close runner-up finish in the Ashland Stakes (G1) on April 4, Gozzip Girl led at every point of call and comfortably held back late bid from 16.30-to-1 longshot Warm Shower to win by 1½ lengths. Bluegrass Princess, who pressed the winner to the top of the stretch, held on for third, another three-quarters of a length back in the seven-horse field.
The 3-to-2 second wagering choice, Gozzip Girl earned her second graded stakes win this season while covering 1 1/8 miles under Kent Desormeaux in 1:51.24 on turf rated as yielding.
Gozzip Girl was returning to turf after stumbling at the start and finishing a neck behind Hooh Why after a wide trip in the Ashland on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland Race Course. She posted her first graded stakes victory with a late rally in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3) on turf at the Sands Point distance on March 15 at Gulfstream Park. Desormeaux let the filly take control in the Sands Point.
“She leads a little sluggish because she’s so leggy, so I encouraged her to come away running and then see where we were going to be, because I thought it was going to be a paceless race,” Desormeaux said. “I just let her find a rhythm, and that rhythm was on the lead. She cornered for home full of run.”
Gozzip Girl seized command soon after the start and was pressed by Bluegrass Princess through slow fractions of :25.44 for the opening quarter, :50.61 for a half-mile, and 1:15.78 for six furlongs. She eagerly accelerated on Desormeaux’s cue nearing the stretch and won under steady encouragement.
Warm Shower encountered traffic at the quarter pole but found clear running room at the three-sixteenths pole and finished second.
Magical Affair, the 1.35-to-1 favorite, could muster only a mild rally after racing near the back of the field and finished fourth.
Trained by Tom Albertrani, Gozzip Girl has won three of five starts this season and posted her third stakes victory. She has annexed four of seven career starts and amassed lifetime earnings of $362,194.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Gozzip Girl is out of the Kingmambo mare Temperence Gift.
Dynaformer stands at Robert and Blythe Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
To view the Sands Point Stakes, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
