1st-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 4-1, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.29, fm, 1 1/4 lengths.
SPANSIVE (f, 3, Karakontie {Jpn}–Fleur de Cerise, by Bernardini), off as the 2-1 favorite from a morning line of 6-1, was given a well-judged ride from the front by Jose Ortiz and had something left late to graduate nicely on debut in the Curlin Florida Derby day lid-lifter. Nicely into stride and asked for just enough speed to make the lead, the dark bay took them through an opening quarter in a modest :25.27 and controlled things through a half in :49.50 while taking token pressure from Millennium Park (Curlin), a Glen Hill-homebred daughter of turf MSW/MGSP Compelled (War Front) who was trying the turf for the first time. Fellow firster Gloria's Princess (Cairo Prince), a half-sister to GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup heroine Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah) and bet in half from her morning line of 12-1, rolled up outside the top two in upper stretch after stalking the pace from third and looked to have all the momentum, but given the race shape, Spansive had plenty to offer in the final furlong and reported home a 1 1/4-length winner. Spansive is out of a daughter of former Dogwood Stables runner Cotton Blossom (Broken Vow), who was trained by this conditioner to win the 2007 GI Acorn S. A $20,000 Keeneland September yearling, Spansive was knocked down to West Bloodstock on behalf of Mike Repole for $145,000 at last year's OBS June Sale after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. Fleur de Cerise is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Tapwrit, a yearling filly by McKinzie and foaled a colt by Raging Bull (Fr) on St. Patrick's Day. Sales history: $20,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $145,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Repole Stable; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher.
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