—Feb 3— Take Charge Paula and My Miss Lilly broke away from a crowded field and staged a two-horse duel that went on for over a half-mile and, in the end, it was Take Charge Paula, the talented daughter of Take Charge Indy, who earned the winner’s share of the $200,000 purse in the Grade III Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream.
Take Charge Paula was running for the first time for owner Peter Deutsch and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
“[Trainer] Kelly [Breen] had won three stakes with her and someone mentioned that she was for sale,” McLaughlin said. “Peter [Deutsch] is new in our barn and he’s been looking for fillies that might later be broodmare prospects. It was a perfect case scenario. He said, ‘Sure, let’s try to get it done,’ and we bought her and here we are now, a graded-stakes winner.”
“I was a little nervous there for a minute when she was head and head; I didn’t know she was going to draw off,” McLaughlin added. “She leaned out a little bit and drifted a little bit but we’ve had some pretty good fillies do that in our past. At least she was still in front. Paco knows her and rode her well. I’m not sure what we’re going to do with her next. It’s been a pretty good day, so far.”
Jockey, Paco Lopez, elaborated: “I had a great trip and a great position. I know this filly really well and Kiaran told me she was a little nervous today, so just work with her. She’s a nice filly and ran great for Kiaran.”
Retro Horse Racing Game 