Up Her Sleeve (Mastery) benefited from a perfect trip to become the first winner for her well-regarded Claiborne Farm-based sire (by Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Gulfstream opener Saturday afternoon.
Sent off at 19-1 off a distant last of four in a rained-off maiden on debut June 30, the bay filly was one of the first away, but came back to Wilmer Garcia to sit third rounding the first turn, as odds-on Royal Rocker (Noble Bird) led them along. Hugging the rail down the backstretch, she was asked for a bit of speed and pinched ground at the fence, popped away from the inside under a ride off the home corner and reeled in the pacesetter with a sixteenth to go, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths. Second-timer Castle Born (Vancouver {Aus}) rallied to be up for second.
Up Her Sleeve, who sold in utero for $160,000 at Keeneland November in 2018, is out of a half-sister to Cash Out (Street Cry {Ire}), graded-placed on turf and dirt as a juvenile; and to MSP Pretty Fancy (Lemon Drop Kid). Her third dam produced MGISW Clear Mandate (Deputy Minister), who was responsible for MGSW & MGISP Newfoundland (Storm Cat) and GISW Strong Mandate (Tiznow). Pocket of Aces is the dam of a yearling Tapwrit filly and a colt foal by the 2017 GI Belmont S. winner.
1st-Gulfstream, $51,000, Msw, 7-17, 2yo, f, 7 1/2fT, 1:32.10, gd, 1 1/4 lengths.
UP HER SLEEVE (f, 2, Mastery–Pocket of Aces, by Harlan's Holiday) Sales history: $120,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $30,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $29,250. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Constance Wickes & Brian Hanley; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd & Bridlewood Farm LLC (KY); T-J Kent Sweezey.
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