Curlin Filly Cruises to Impressive First-Out Tally in Maryland

7th-Laurel, $46,000, Msw, 8-1, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:23.95, ft.
ARRIFANA (f, 3, Curlin">Curlin–Vaulcluse {SW}, by A.P. Indy) entered this unveiling with a very upbeat worktab over the Fair Hill all weather, and was backed down to 17-10 favoritism facing a field of foes who had mostly had their fair share of chances. Breaking a bit outwardly from her wide draw, the bay dropped back to sit second last while always well off the inside. She began to pick off foes into a :46.84 half, briefly seemed to idle, but found another gear while advancing rapidly out wide into the stretch. Nobody could muster any kind of serious response to Arrifana from there, and she galloped home as she pleased to cruise home 10 lengths the best. Hunting Season (Pioneerof the Nile) completed the exacta. “We honestly were [expecting that kind of effort],” winning trainer Kelly Rubley said. “We've been waiting a long time to get this filly to the races. We've had a few little issues where we've had to slow down but we knew she was worth the wait. [It was] nothing major, [she] just needed a little time here and there, and it was definitely the right thing to wait. She was growing a little too fast for what she needed.” The winner is half to Lukes Alley (Flower Alley), Ch. Older Horse-Can, GISW, $795,122, and fillies by Empire Maker born in 2018 and 2019. Dam Vaulcluse, a track record breaker going an extended mile on the Tampa dirt in her third win from as many starts, was purchased for $600,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November sale in foal to Lookin At Lucky. She was bred to War Front this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $22,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O/B-Gunpowder Farms LLC (KY); T-Kelly Rubley.