On Time Girl dominates in the Forward Gal, Coglianese Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Albaugh Family Stables’ own breeder On time girlmaking her season and graded-stakes debut, stamped herself as a three-year-old filly to watch with a determined three-length victory in Saturday’s $175,000 Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
The 46th running of the Forward Gal for second-year fillies sprinting seven furlongs on the main track was the third of five stakes, two prized, worth $975,000 in purses on a 12-race program anchored by the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3) for 3-year-olds en route to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
Named after the Florida-bred 2-year-old filly champion of 1970 who won a dozen races, including the Grade 1 Alabama, Mother Goose, Spinaway and Gazelle, the Forward Gal offered 42 qualifying points for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.
On Time Girl ($4.20), sent off as even-money favorite in a field of eight, worried jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. his fourth win of the day and second in a stakes after Solitude Dude in the $175,000 Swale for 3-year-olds sprinting on the main track.
Arindel home bred Mythicalwhose four stakes in six starts at 2 included the Tremont against men and Adirondack (G3) at Saratoga, got away a step slow but soon gained her stride and surged into the lead halfway down the backstretch, covering the first quarter mile in 22.96 seconds. Ortiz had put On Time Girl among the second-place horses, pushed out by the 9-1 longshot Imperatrice, a second starter trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.
Mythical held the lead through a half mile in 46.05 seconds, while On Time Girl was shuffled back to fourth. Empress took over second place and Mosaic pattern passed horses on the outside and moved to third as the field left the backstretch, giving trainer Brad Cox a brief moment of concern.
“She had to pay attention to it a little bit going into the far turn,” Cox said, “[but] could sit behind the horses and finish a lot.”
Ortiz patiently waited aboard On Time Girl for a room, which came after he went home. Sending the bay filly between Tessellate and Hollen Drive, he set his sights on Imperatrice, forging a brief lead inside the eighth pole and beating her and the late-running Sneaky Good late to win in 1:24.59 on a fast main circuit.
“I broke well. I felt like Mythical had speed, so I stayed next to her. The horse on the outside showed some speed, so I took my time,” Ortiz said. “I came away from there on the half-mile pole. I was in a bad spot and I didn’t feel comfortable there, but the filly responded like a champ. She kept trying and she kept me there. I was able to hold on, keep my position and then I stood up and she did the rest.”
Imperatrice remained in second place, a neck ahead Secretly goodfollowed by Hollen DriveMythical, Mosaic Pattern, Secaan And Music bursts.
Next up for 3-year-old fillies on the property at Gulfstream is the $225,000 Davona Dale (G2) on Feb. 28, the final stepping stone to the $275,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) that runs 1 1/16 miles on March 28.
On Time Girl is by Not This Time out of the Uncle Mo mare Girl Daddy, who won the one-mile Pocahontas (G3) and was second in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in 2020. Not This Time won the Iroquois (G3) and was beaten by a neck in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), both at 1 1/16 miles.
The Forward Gal was the longest race to date for On Time Girl, who won three of four starts at 2, with a 3 ½ length win in the 6 ½ furlong Fern Creek at Churchill Downs. Cox expects to point On Time Girl to the Davona Dale, feeling she has the potential to stretch herself.
“It’s possible based on the family tree,” he said. “Maybe it’s something she’s capable of. The Davona Dale could be in play here at the end of February and make a one-turn mile.”
#TIME #GIRL #SHINES #175K #GAL