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Gold Square LLC's Full Count Felicia traveled the shortest distance possible around the Gulfstream Park turf course Saturday, never leaving the rail on her way to a popular victory in the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3), a prep for the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) Jan. 27.

The Suwannee River, a mile turf stakes for fillies and mares, was featured on Saturday's program that was co-headlined by the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3), a prep for the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream, and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a prep for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

“We're prepping for the Pegasus. We prepped in this race, and we're looking forward to coming back next month,” said Al Gold of Gold Square.

Full Count Felicia, the even-money favorite in a field of eight, was fourth in her previous start in the Goldikova (G2) on the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup undercard at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old daughter of War Front had won her three prior starts, including an 8½-length score in the All Along at Pimlico.

“We thought about just kind of sitting on her and making sure her energy was back from the trip and everything, but after watching that work and watching her train it's like, this filly was sitting there begging to run,” said trainer Britney Russell. “It was nice to see her back up her training.”

The Russell trainee settled in fifth along the rail as Sister Lou Ann showed the way while setting fractions of :23.83 and :48.25 for the first half mile. The pacesetter was challenged on the turn by Fast as Flight as Edgard Zayas swung Accomplished Girl off the rail to make a three-wide stretch bid. Irad Ortiz Jr., meanwhile, cut the corner on Full Count Felicia, who responded with a powerful kick to outrun Accomplished Girl to the wire.

“We thought about just kind of sitting on her and making sure her energy was back from the trip and everything, but after watching that work and watching her train it's like, this filly was sitting there begging to run. It was nice to see her back up her training.”

“I had a beautiful trip. She put me in a perfect spot and after that I waited until it was time to go,” said Ortiz, the defending Championship Meet titlist. “At the quarter pole, I couldn't get outside, then the rail opened up and I went for it.”

Full Count Felicia ($4.20) ran a mile in 1:34.32 over a turf course rated as good on her way to her first graded stakes victory by three-quarters of a length.

Accomplished Girl, who captured the Presque Isle Masters (G2) on Tapeta in her prior start, closed well in the stretch to finish second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Sister Lou Ann, her Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemate.

Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen LLC, Full Count Felicia is out of the Irish-bred Galileo mare Claire de Lune. Joe Hardoon, agent, bought her for $200,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where Julie Davies consigned her. She has a 5-2-1 record from 14 career starts and $328,901 in purse earnings.

The post Full Count Felicia Takes Rail To First Graded Victory In Suwannee River appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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O'Connor (CHI) slipped through a tight opening along the rail and launched a determined stretch bid in the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) Saturday at Gulfstream Park, virtually clinching an invitation the Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27 at the Hallandale Beach, Fla. track.

The Harlan's Holiday, a 1 1/16-mile prep for the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream, co-headlined Saturday's program with the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes that served as a prep for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

Owned by Michael and Julia Iavarone and Fernando Vine Ode, O'Connor ($9.20) earned his second consecutive graded stakes victory in the Harlan's Holiday. The 6-year-old Chilean-bred raced in midpack while running one path off the rail around the first turn and along the backstretch as Saffie Joseph Jr-trained stablemate Ny Traffic set the pace, pressed by Grand Aspen while setting fractions of :23.73 and :47.12 for the first half mile.

Tyler Gaffalione and O'Connor advanced to third while dropping down to the rail leaving the backstretch, as Ny Traffic and Grand Aspen picked up the pace. Leaving the turn into the stretch, Gaffalione sent O'Connor through a tight opening inside Ny Traffic as Grand Aspen took over the lead.

O'Connor responded when asked by Gaffalione, fighting his way to victory by a neck inside a very game Grand Aspen. Ny Traffic came again to finish third, three-quarters of a length back, under Javier Castellano.

O'Connor, the son of Boboman, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.80.

“I know he's an older horse and he's run a bunch of times, but it seems like he's figuring things out right now,” Gaffalione said.

Joseph tried to sort out the series of events in the Harlan's Holiday.

“Ny Traffic was going good in front and I don't know what he did. Javier said he kind of looked at something. Then it looked like O'Connor was going to get [stuck on] the rail and all of a sudden it looked like were going to run second and fourth,” Joseph said. “Then it looked like Ny Traffic was going to win and finally O'Connor came and got the job done at the end. That's racing. So many different emotions during a short race and thankfully we got the job done. Both horses ran well. Tyler gave [O'Connor] a great ride.”

O'Connor, Chile's 2022 Horse of the Year who was produced by the Chilean-bred Touch Gold mare Torrente de Agua, finished fourth as the favorite in last season's Harlan's Holiday, which followed an impressive U.S. debut.

“Last year I didn't think he could get beat. I've learned the least I know the better I do,” Joseph said. “Fast forward one year and we got the job done. We're proud of him, obviously. He's a horse that's won two in a row now and he's doing what we thought he could do,” said Joseph, who saddled O'Connor for a victory in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland in his prior start.

Joseph, who is also pointing Skippylongstocking to the Pegasus, said the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Pegasus should suit O'Connor.

“Distance will be better for him,” Joseph said. “He's probably best at a 1 ¼ mile.”

The post ‘We Got The Job Done’: Pegasus Hopeful O’Connor Preps With Tenacious Harlan’s Holiday Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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