2nd-Gulfstream, $43,000, Msw, 3-8, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.67, ft.
FOUR GRANDS (f, 3, Honor Code–Taylor S {SW & GSP, $121,519}, by Medaglia d'Oro), backed down to 8-5 favoritism into the face of a pricey Todd Pletcher firster, ran to her backing Sunday for a facile debut victory at Gulfstream against a field of all fellow first timers. Off a half-step slowly from the outside six slot, the bay was pushed along by Luis Saez to chase in third outside of aforementioned Pletcher representative Maggie Fitz (Ghostzapper). She made an early bid midway on the turn and was already several lengths in front past the quarter pole, and required only hands and heels urging from there to glide under the line a 6 1/4-length graduate. Maggie Fitz kept on for second. Four Grands is the first foal out of 'TDN Rising Star' Taylor S, who was third in the local GII Forward Gal S. before taking the six-furlong Any Limit S. here in 2015. Taylor S is out of GSW Miss Macy Sue (Trippi), making her a half to MGISW 'Rising Star' Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song)–a Lane's End barn mate now of Honor Code from the same promising crop of sires–and GSW and GISP Not This Time (Giant's Causeway), who has first 2-year-olds. Taylor S produced a Bernardini colt in 2018 and an Into Mischief filly in 2019 but was barren to Tapit for 2020.
“I was expecting her to win, but I didn't know she would run this big,” trainer Dale Romans told the Gulfstream notes team. “We could show up in the [Mar. 28 GII] Gulfstream Oaks. She's got license to be a good one. She's got pedigree. She's always done everything right. That was impressive.” Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $25,800. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O/B-Albaugh Family Stables LLC (KY); T-Dale L. Romans.
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