Prom Queen delivered in the $2650,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park in stretch-running fashion.
Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old daughter of Quality Road and a homebred for Gary and Mary West broke and settled toward the back of the pack off pacesetter My Miss Mo, who set fractions of :24.13, :48.52, and 1:12.49. At odds of 3-1, Prom Queen traveled third in hand under jockey Javier Castellano down the backstretch. She continued to stalk in the clear around the far turn and, as the leader turned for home, she made her move to challenge. Prom Queen battled on the outside of My Miss Mo in the stretch and put her away. With no other challengers in sight, she proved much the best in the Gulfstream Park Oaks by 2 3/4 lengths under the wire in a final time of 1:44.40. She paid $8.20 for a $2 win wager.
"Proud of her performance," Cox said. "Big run from her. Javier put her in a good position. She's got a big, long, flowing stride. She was able to put herself in a good position turning for home, and she stayed on."
The early leader, My Miss Mo, proved second best, unable to go on with Prom Queen in the deep stretch.
The 4-5 favorite, She Be Smooth, rallied for third. The daughter of Lexitonian was last early in the field of seven, and raced there throughout until the field turned for home, but was only able to gain for the show.
Betty's Pearl and Nasti Z were fourth and fifth, respectively. The top five finishers earned Kentucky Oaks (G1) points on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10. The Kentucky Oaks will be run May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Prom Queen earned her first stakes win in her first attempt. She won her second race in a row after breaking her maiden Feb. 12 in her second try after losing to She Be Smooth in her first start. Both wins have come with Castellano aboard.
"It seemed the track was favoring speed and I didn't want to be too far back," Castellano said. "It's beautiful the way she moves and strides. It seems to me the longer the better for her. The way she finished was very impressive. I rode her all the way, a mile and an eighth, let her gallop out, and she did really well. I had a lot of horse."
Now tied for third with Counting Stars on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 100 points, she will point to the first Friday in May.
"For sure we'll target that race moving forward," Cox said. "We'll ship her back to Kentucky at some point and prepare for that. Hopefully she does well over the next five weeks."
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