Cut loose in the lane and rolling home, Youalmosthadme (f, 2, Oxbow–Good Gator, by Good and Tough) gave them the slip on the cut back from a mile and dominated the Myrtlewood S. to pick up her second career black type victory.
Last seen finishing second behind long-gone GIII Pocahontas victress 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole), who finished second to Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Darley Alcibiades earlier in the month, Youalmosthadme already tallied an open length maiden score over this track in the spring and won the Kentucky Juvenile S. in May at Churchill after moving from John Hancock to Brad Cox. She also hit the board in Ellis Park's Debutante S. in August.
Breaking well and stalking from second as the pacesetter put up brisk early fractions of :22.77 and :45.63, she took a short lead passing the half before opening up on the field heading for the line. Under moderate urging, she sailed home seven lengths best over familiar foe Hot Beach (Omaha Beach) and Fibber (Frosted) ran on strongly to round out the trifecta.
Conditioner Brad Cox had high praise in the winner's enclosure for his filly's ability to go from routes to sprinting: “Obviously [it takes] a very sound [horse] and an intelligent one, and she's both. I'm very proud of her performance today. [Jockey] Tyler [Gaffalione] did a good job. He put her into position and she fired.”
#7 YOUALMOSTHADME ($5.86) was prominent early and easily pulled away down the lane to win Keeneland's $200,000 Myrtlewood Stakes under a hand ride.
The filly by @CalumetFarm's Oxbow was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/znRgyQRWL8
— TVG (@TVG) October 27, 2023
“She's been acting in the mornings that–without a doubt–she'd improved over the last month or so. I like what I've seen from her since the GIII Pocahontas (at Churchill Downs Sept. 16, when she finished second going a mile), and I think the cutback helped out a good bit today as well.”
While not willing to commit to limiting Youalmosthadme to one turn races, Cox did confirm that she would stay there for the near future.
Out of Good Gator, Youalmosthadme is the most successful of her siblings thus far, and the third winner from four to the races. She also has a yearling Get Stormy half-sister. The victress hails from the female line of GSP May Gator, who also claims MGSW Miz Ida (Proud Citizen) and SW Gator Zone (Sharp Humor) to her tally. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
MYRTLEWOOD S., $198,750, Keeneland, 10-27, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.67, ft.
1–YOUALMOSTHADME, 120, f, 2, by Oxbow
1st Dam: Good Gator (SP), by Good and Tough
2nd Dam: May Gator, by Green Alligator
3rd Dam: Thesixthofmay, by Classic Account
($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing LLC, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, and Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-Pope, Marc, and Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $117,800. Lifetime Record: GSP, 5-3-1-1, $361,950.
2–Hot Beach, 120, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Hot Water, by Medaglia d'Oro. ($160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Cobalt Investments, LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $38,000.
3–Fibber, 118, f, 2, Frosted–Devious Intent, by Dixie Union. ($55,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Kat Kirk and Wayne R. Sanders; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-W. Bret Calhoun. $19,000.
Margins: 7, 1HF, NK. Odds: 1.93, 3.75, 7.29.
Also Ran: Copper Em, Field Lass, Xtreme Smoke Show, Wellareyouhappynow, Xtreme Diva, Let Them Watch.
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