NEWS
Tottie takes over in stretch to win Suwannee River
Posted: Saturday, February 06, 2010 7:11 PM
TOTTIE
Coglianese Photos
To view the Suwannee River Stakes, click here.
by Steve Bailey
J. H. Richmond-Watson’s Tottie (GB) won her second consecutive start at Gulfstream Park to remain unbeaten in North America as she captured the $125,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3) on Saturday.
Trained by Chad Brown, the four-year-old Fantastic Light filly pressed the pace into the stretch under jockey Jose Lezcano before overtaking In My Glory and driving to a three-quarter-length victory, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.34 on firm turf .
“I was a little concerned that there wasn’t much pace up front today,” Brown said. “She has the one big run, but Jose made a decision [to move] earlier in the race than she normally would, and it was a decision that I think won the race for her.”
Tottie won only one of ten starts in England during her first two seasons for trainer Amanda Perrett before she was transferred to Brown last fall. She won her North American debut in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance race by 1¼ lengths on January 7 at Gulfstream.
In the Suwannee River, In My Glory hustled right to the front, leading the field through dawdling fractions of :50.96 through a half-mile and 1:15.55 through six furlongs as Tottie raced in perfect position, never more than three lengths behind the leader.
Taking over at the sixteenth pole, Tottie dug in and prevailed in an all-out drive.
“The plan was to come from behind, but when she broke, she broke right on top and I didn’t want to take her back,” Lezcano said. “She was sharp and I took her right to the rail to get my position, and when I asked her she gave me a big kick. She is a very nice filly.”
Grade 3-placed Cable rallied late to get up for second, a neck in front of Grade 2-placed In My Glory.
Tottie has won three of 12 career starts and earned $116,484. She is one of two winners from four starters out of the stakes-winning Komaite mare Katy Nowaitee.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
