Doll Baby, a 3-year-old daughter of two-time champion Groupie Doll, debuted with an impressive front-running victory Sunday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Trained by Ralph Nicks for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm LLC, Doll Baby broke alertly from the gate to assume the early lead in Race 4, a seven-furlong maiden special weight race for sophomore fillies and continued on to prevail by a length under Jose Ortiz.
“It was just awesome and it was at a distance mama liked,” Pope said of her homebred filly by Tapit. “Hopefully, she's Groupie Doll incarnated. It's only one race but a good start.”
Groupie Doll won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) back-to-back in 2012-'13 at seven furlongs to be honored with the Eclipse Award as outstanding female sprinter both years. Bred by trainer Buff Bradley and his late father, Fred, Groupie Doll was purchased at the Keeneland November sale for $3.1 million by Pope. After finishing fourth against colts in the Cigar Mile, Groupie Doll closed out her career with a thrilling come-from-behind victory in the 2014 Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Doll Baby is Groupie Doll's third winner from her first five foals.
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