Lawson Racing Stables' One Identity, in her fourth race off the claim and second straight on the grass, got a well-timed ride from jockey Paco Lopez to become a stakes winner for the first time with a half-length triumph over Charlie T in the $100,000 Ladies Turf Sprint on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Rohan Crichton, 4-year-old One Identity ($8.20) covered five furlongs in :55.92 over a firm turf course in the Ladies Turf Sprint for older fillies and mares.
Claimed for $35,000 last summer at Gulfstream, One Identity was exiting a third-place effort in an optional claiming allowance sprinting five furlongs Jan. 18, her turf debut, beaten less than two lengths. That race snapped a two-race win streak for the daughter of Uncaptured, both victories having come over Gulfstream's all-weather Tapeta surface.
“When she ran the last time, Paco admitted they went too fast and he wanted to relax her a little bit more so that's what he did,” Crichton said. “It played out well for us.”
Lopez settled One Identity in fourth saving ground as 35-1 long shot War of Ages blazed through an opening quarter of a mile in :21.42 pressed to her outside by Charlie T. Lopez waited patiently for room that came when the field straightened for home, splitting War of Ages and Charlie T at the top of the stretch and outrunning a determined Charlie T to the wire.
Mamba Wamba, sent off as the 2-1 betting favorite, finished third followed by Imagery, Stony Point, Moor Strength and War of Ages. Miss J McKay and Spun Glass were scratched.
“Paco sat and got a good trip. He decided to go inside,” Crichton said. “He gave up the garden spot outside, but the rail opened up and she got through.”
Bred in Florida by Laurie Plesa, David Melin, and Leon Ellman, One Identity won three of seven starts before being claimed and was second in the Any Limit sprinting six furlongs on the dirt last winter at Gulfstream. She has now won three of four starts for Crichton, who said he had not looked beyond the Ladies Turf Sprint for One Identity.
“One dream at a time,” Crichton said. “She's gotten better and better, for sure.”
Uncaptured, a former Ocala Stud stallion before being sold to stand in South Korea, was also represented on Gulfstream's Saturday card by Yes I Am Free, winner of the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3).
The post ‘One Dream At A Time’: Former Claim One Identity Earns First Stakes Win In Ladies’ Turf Sprint At Gulfstream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
