Simplification (Not This Time) became the 17th stakes winner and third in the last six days for his in-form sire with a convincing victory in this first step on the road to the GI Florida Derby and–perhaps–beyond.
An even fourth on his 5 1/2-furlong debut on the synthetic track Oct. 1, the bay overwhelmed a group of Florida-bred maidens by 16 3/4 lengths Oct. 23, good for a 92 Beyer. He couldn't put them back to back, faltering to be third at long odds-on Nov. 13, but had his fair share of supporters Saturday.
Away without incident, Simplification was part of the early scramble for the lead and assume command outright hooking up with the course proper after an opening quarter of :23.70. Well rated through the middle fractions while traveling nicely for Javier Castellano, the second betting choice was a bit late swapping his leads in upper stretch and lengthened away in the final eighth of a mile before galloping out strongly into the turn.
“I told everyone, these are good horses but I thought the more distance would be better for my horse,” winning trainer Antonio Sano said. “When the horse ran six furlongs for the first time, he won easy, but that was a maiden special weight. The next race the horse was not ready. He did not work every day because [we had] the option to sell the horse. The horse was not sold. I told the owner, we'll enter Jan. 1 for one mile. Castellano worked the horse. He's a special horse, a very good horse.”
France Weiner, who also bred 2005 GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Closing Argument (Successful Appeal) with her husband Irwin, acquired Simply Confection for $80,000 carrying this colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2018. Simplification, whose second dam was a full-sister to champion Ashado, has a yearling half-sister by Mendelssohn that RNAd for $190,000 at FTSAUG last summer and a yearling filly by Audible. The mare is due to Union Rags. The winner is bred on the reverse cross of leading freshman sire Gun Runner.
MUCHO MACHO MAN S., $150,000, Gulfstream, 1-1, 3yo, 1m, 1:35.04, ft.
1–SIMPLIFICATION, 118, c, 3, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Simply Confection (SP, $124,688), by Candy Ride (Arg)
2nd Dam: Ballado's Halo, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: Goulash, by Mari's Book
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($50,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV). O-Tami Bobo; B-France & Irwin J Weiner (FL); T-Antonio Sano; J-Javier Castellano. $92,070. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $125,270.
2–Strike Hard, 120, c, 3, Flashback–Coco's Sweetie, by Tenpins. 1ST BLACK TYPE. ($3,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $25,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Miracle's International Trading Inc; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc (KY); T-Matthew J Williams. $29,700.
3–Mr Rum Runner, 118, c, 3, Uncaptured–Jitterbug Blues, by Pleasant Tap. ($17,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Lanes Mark Racing Stable & Danny J Pate; B-J F Webb (FL); T-Patrick L Biancone. $14,850.
Margins: 4, 7 1/4, NK. Odds: 4.20, 0.80, 22.00.
Also Ran: Graphic Detail, Sport Pepper, Skippylongstocking.
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