A little over a month after scoring an explosive victory in the Bowman Mill Stakes during the Keeneland fall meet, jockey Chantal Sutherland and Super Chow did it again in the $50,000 Inaugural Stakes Dec. 3 at Tampa Bay Downs.
The speedy Super Chow, a 2-year-old son of the late Lord Nelson, has been on the lead in every one of his five starts—only failing to preserve it to the end when third in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) in August.
Saturday’s race was no different, as Sutherland gunned the dark bay to the front from the far outside post and never looked back on their way to a 2 1/2-length tally.
“It’s amazing to be on a horse like this. He takes you places and makes you feel so special,” Sutherland said. “With good horses like that, you’re like, ‘Did I go too fast?’ But when they accelerate around the turn… he is such a professional. There is so much there.”
Super Chow and Sutherland opened up a clear advantage through an opening quarter in :22.31 and a half-mile in :45.14. Floating wide around the far turn, the Lea Farms’ colorbearer’s lead suddenly became jeopardized when 33-1 shot Handsome Playboy cut the corner and launched a gallant bid from the inside rail. Digging in, Super Chow turned back his challenger and hit the wire in a final time of 1:09.60 on a fast main track.
Handsome Playboy was 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Dreaming of Kona in third.
Trained by Jorge Delgado, favored Super Chow ($3.20) upped his bankroll to $235,850 with his fourth win.
“I loved everything about the race,” Delgado said. “He has shown he can win anywhere—this is his fifth different track as a 2-year-old—and he has shown he is born to race. He loves his job.”
Acquired by Lea Farms for $75,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in training from the Eisaman Equine consignment, Super Chow was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farms. The second foal out of the Warrior's Reward mare Bonita Mia, Super Chow comes from the immediate family of grade 1 winning race mares Carina Mia, Miss Match, as well as Argentinian group 1 winners Miss Linda and Mr. Nancho.
Video: Inaugural S. (BT)
Dorth Vader Rumbles by Rivals to Sandpiper Stakes Win
John Ropes' homebred Dorth Vader continued her upward ascent with a second consecutive stakes triumph in the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Following a four-length score in the Oct. 29 Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the daughter of red-hot freshman sire Girvin , scored by 2 1/4 lengths under Marco Meneses. 3-for-4 at sprint distances, she finished third in her only prior attempt at two turns, finishing third to NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) participant Atomically in the FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl Stakes.
Facing only four other 2-year-old fillies, Dorth Vader tracked in third behind favored Lady Radler and Dreaming of Snow, who piped out early fractions of :22.04 and :44.92 on the front end. Set under a drive past the half-mile marker, Dorth Vader quickly loomed into contention despite drifting out to the middle of the track coming off the far turn. Under steady encouragement from Meneses, she roared by her rivals mid-stretch to stop the clock in a stakes record time of 1:09.35 for the six furlongs on a fast main track.
“I was a little nerve-wracked at the quarter pole, but she kicked on and did her thing. I thought she ran incredible,” trainer Michael Yates said. “She is a very consistent, nice filly, and Marcos was very patient on her.”
Awesome Pic and Lady Radler completed the trifecta.
Dorth Vader returned $5.80 for a $2 win ticket.
One of four stakes winners sired by Girvin this year, Dorth Vader is out of the stakes-placed Yonaguska mare Hardcore Candy. Dorth Vader earned $80,000, which included a $50,000 “win-only” bonus for a Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association-registered Florida-bred sired by an FTBOA-registered Florida stallion.
Video: Sandpiper S. (BT)
