Feel Glorious Chasing Graded Status In Gallorette

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing's Feel Glorious, a four-time stakes winner of nearly $500,000 in 21 career races, continues the chase for an elusive graded victory in Saturday's $150,000 Gallorette (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

The 70th running of the 1 1/16-mile Gallorette for fillies and mares 3 and up on the grass is among 10 stakes, six graded, worth $2.25 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program headlined by the 146th renewal of the Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

Other graded-stakes on the card are the $250,000 Dinner Party (G2) for 3-year-olds and up on the turf; $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) for 3-year-olds and $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up, both going six furlongs; and $100,000 UAE President Cup (G1) for Arabian horses.

First race post time is 10:30 a.m.

Feel Glorious is trained by New York-based Christophe Clement, who won the Gallorette with Tresoriere in 1998 and Ozone Bere in 2006. The 5-year-old Bated Breath mare has raced twice this year, closing to be third by a neck in the one-mile Honey Fox (G4) Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park behind two-time Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Got Stormy and Grade 3 winner Zofelle.

“She can beat both those horses. She's as good as they are and she can handle them,” co-owner Dean Reeves said. “We don't duck anybody.”

Second by 2 ½ lengths in the March 27 Sand Springs at Gulfstream, her most recent outing, Feel Glorious won twice in six 2020 starts, both in stakes at the Gallorette distance – the Forever Together in November at Aqueduct and Perfect Sting in August at Saratoga.

Feel Glorious also won two stakes in 2019, the Memories of Silver and Winter Memories respectively in the spring and fall at Aqueduct, once she arrived in the U.S. after beginning her career in England and Germany where she was second in the 2018 Grosser Preis Soldier Hollow Youngster Cup.

According to Equibase, Feel Glorious was purchased at Tattersall's horses of racing age sale for $174,638 in August 2018. She has been second in the 2019 Soaring Softly (G3) and Sands Point (G2) and third in the 2020 New York (G2) and Matchmaker (G3), with earnings of $492,209 for Reeves, best known as the owner of 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner that was retired in 2014 with a bankroll of more than $5.6 million.

“She's been all over it. She has run and competes with the best fillies and mares out there and she's been so consistent,” Reeves said. “She's got the best kick of any horse I believe I've ever been around. When she turns for home, she's so determined. She comes to play every time.

“She's just been a pleasure,” he added. “How she hasn't gotten a graded stake yet I don't know, but she's going to get one, maybe more. She's very, very game every time. I'm excited to see her race this weekend. I think it'll be a good spot for and we're looking forward to it.”

Alex G. Campbell Jr.'s 5-year-old homebred Mean Mary will be seeking her fourth career graded-stakes victory, stringing together three straight in the La Prevoyante (G3), Orchid (G3) and New York – the latter over Feel Glorious – in the winter and summer of 2020 in Florida and New York.

Second by a neck to Rushing Fall, 2020's champion turf mare, in the 1 1/8-mile Diana (G1) last August at Saratoga, Mean Mary hasn't raced since running seventh, beaten 2 ½ lengths, in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

“We gave her the winter off after the Breeders' Cup. My original thought was to go to the New York Handicap [but] it's a tough trip to go a mile and a quarter off a break,” trainer Graham Motion said. “I thought this might make more sense for her. She certainly has enough turn of foot to run a mile and a sixteenth.”

Mean Mary has shown an ability to relax on the front end in longer races, such as the 1 ½-mile La Prevoyante, 1 3/8-mile Orchid and 1 ¼-mile New York, but found herself up close to a lively pace in the Breeders' Cup along with Irish-bred Cayenne Pepper before French import Audarya came on late to spring a 17-1 upset.

“She's hasn't done much wrong. I thought she had a tough trip in the Breeders' Cup. She ended up on the lead or close to it, and then she kind of got chased which just made it tough for her. A European horse, which I never imagined would kind of go with her early,” Motion said. “I thought that was a tough trip, we gave her some time off and she's done well coming back.”

Motion also entered Al Shaqab homebred Tuned, who has one win in seven starts since coming to the U.S. from France in the fall of 2019. Following her allowance victory at Keeneland, the 5-year-old mare has run second or third four times and has never been lost by more than 3 ¾ lengths in any of her domestic races. She ran second to French Group 3 winner Pocket Square April 7 in her most recent race.

“She's pretty consistent and hasn't been beaten very far in her races,” Motion said. “She was unlucky the other day at Keeneland. She ran against a really nice horse in the allowance race that day, but there has to be a stake somewhere with her name on it, I believe.”

Motion's previous Gallorette wins have come with Ultra Brat (2018) and Film Maker (2005).

Chad Brown, who trains Pocket Square, will send out the pair of Flighty Lady and Great Island. Peter Brant's Flighty Lady was bred in Ireland, raced in France and won a 1 1/16-mile Aqueduct allowance April 3 in her U.S. debut, while Alpha Delta Stables' Great Island is exiting a head victory in an off-the-turf edition of the 1 1/8-mile Suwannee River Feb. 6 at Gulfstream.

Brown won the Gallorette with Zagora (2012), Pianist (2013) and Watsdachances (2015).

Phipps Stable homebred Vigilantes Way is set to start for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, having run third in the 1 1/16-mile Dahlia April 24 at Pimlico. The 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro became a stakes winner last December in the 1 1/16-mile Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream.

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Got Stormy Noses Out Zofelle In 6-Year-Old Debut in Honey Fox

My Racehorse CA and Spendthrift Farm's multiple Grade 1 winner Got Stormy reeled in long shot pacesetter Jakarta in mid-stretch and held off a furious late bid from graded-stakes winner Zofelle by a nose to make a triumphant 6-year-old debut in Saturday's $125,000 Honey Fox (G3) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 36th running of the one-mile Honey Fox for older turf females was the sixth of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $1.475 million on a blockbuster 14-race program headlined by the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds on the road to the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa March 27, and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) featuring the seasonal debut of 2-year-old filly champion Vequist.

With regular rider Tyler Gaffalione aboard for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, Got Stormy ($4.20) completed the distance in 1:35.52 over a firm course to earn her 11th career victory and push her bankroll further over the $2 million mark. Sent off as the even-money favorite in a field of eight, Got Stormy was racing for the first time since running fifth against males in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 7.

It was the second win of the day for Gaffalione and helped provide of measure of relief for Casse. Earlier in the day, Casse ran second by a nose with Olympic Runner in the $125,000 Canadian Turf (G3) and saw Spanish Loveaffair disqualified from first to fourth in the $100,000 Herecomesthebride (G3).

Gaffalione settled Got Stormy in second behind Claiming Crown Distaff Dash winner Jakarta, who finished third to Got Stormy after setting the pace in the Franklin County (G3) last fall at Keeneland. Jakarta posted splits of 24.29 seconds, 48.76 and 1:12.72 and maintained the lead turning for home. Got Stormy ranged up in the straight and drew even inside the eighth pole as Zofelle began rolling on the outside, setting up the spirited bid to the wire.

Feel Glorious was part of the photo finish, running third, with Jakarta fourth and Art of Almost fifth.

$125,000 Honey Fox (G3) Quotes

Winning trainer Mark Casse (Got Stormy): “She had a great spot. Just kind of what we thought, we thought the horse that was on the lead would be there and she was sitting nice. She kicked and you could see a little bit of the rustiness today. She kicked, but she didn't kick as hard as she does sometimes. I think she'll build from this and get better.”

“I just wanted to get over this. I called [Spendthrift GM] Ned [Toffey] and said I figured out where I wanted to come back and I told him, and he said, 'Fine.' We'll see what's next. A lot of it depends on weather. She can't go over a mile, and it needs to be hard if it's a mile.”

“She was in the sale and I knew what the reserve was, and when she went over it my wife and I were watching from the office and it was sad. It was sad. And then about 20 minutes later I got a phone call that I wasn't expecting and [Spendthrift GM] Ned Toffey said to me, 'Let me ask you a dumb question. We'd like to run her another year, would you like to train her?' We went from being sad to very happy. We're excited we were able to deliver. I thought maybe last year getting her ready for her first race back I didn't do such a good job, and this year we cranked her up a little more.”

“I was really confident with her, as long as the turf stayed hard. She should build from this; it's just which direction do we go. She can do a little bit of anything. I don't know. We may sprint her. Never over a mile though.”

“They don't come around very often. We got her after a couple starts and she just got better and better. People always ask me what go ther better and it was just her confidence and much better on the racetrack. She used to be very nervous and now wherever you take her, she gets out of the van, looks around, and says, 'Where have you taken me now?'”

Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione (Got Stormy): “She's a tremendous filly. I've been able to get to know her the past few years and I have a lot of confidence every time I'm on her. She shows up every time. Really all the credit goes to Mark and his team to get her ready off the layoff. She fired a big one today.”

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Got Stormy Makes Seasonal Bow in Honey Fox

MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy) makes her first start for her new owners Saturday in Gulfstream's GIII Honey Fox S. Winner of the GI Fourstardave H. and GI Matriarch S. in 2019, the chestnut checked in second against males in this year's renewal of the Fourstardave Aug. 22. The chestnut captured the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint S. Sept. 12 and followed suit with a win in Keeneland's GIII Buffalo Trace Franklin County S. Oct. 9. Closing out her 2020 campaign with a fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint S. Nov. 7 at Keeneland, Got Stormy was purchased by Spendthrift Farm for $2.75-million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale and returned to Mark Casse's care for another year. My Racehorse, who partnered with Spendthrift on reigning Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief), teams up with B. Wayne Hughes's operation again on this popular mare.

“We're very pleased with her. Last year I felt like maybe I didn't have her quite as ready for her first start when we ran her, and the one thing I did was I tried to get her ready on the dirt,” Casse said. “So, this year I changed my mind and I sent her down and she's been breezing over the turf. She loves to breeze on the turf. She should be a good and ready.”

Zofelle (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) was a close second in the Sand Springs S. here last March and completed the trifecta in the GIII Mint Julep S. at Churchill May 30. Tiring to fifth after a wide trip behind Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in Belmont's GI Just a Game S. June 27, the bay kicked off this term with a late-rallying score in the GIII Marshua's River S. over course and distance Jan. 23.

MSW Feel Glorious (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) has been knocking at the door of a graded success for most of her career. Third in both the GII New York S. and GIII Matchmaker S. last summer, the bay captured Saratoga's Perfect Sting S. in August, but failed to fire when seventh in Belmont's GIII Noble Damsel S. Sept. 26. Fourth in that venue's GIII Athenia S. Oct. 25, she won the Forever Together S. at Aqueduct last time Nov. 27.

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Feel Glorious Last-To-First In Memories Of Silver

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing's Feel Glorious rallied last to first to capture the $100,000 Memories of Silver for sophomore fillies on Friday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the daughter of Bated Breath settled at the back of the pack under Eric Cancel as La Feve carved out the early fractions marking the opening quarter-mile in 25.69 seconds and the half-mile in 49.69 in the 1 1/16-mile route over a firm outer turf course.

Blowout, the 6-5 mutuel favorite under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, advanced down the backstretch with good energy up the rail, but stumbled slightly before recovering to fourth as La Feve, under constant pressure from Aunt Hattie, led the field into the final turn.

Cancel urged Feel Glorious into contention with a wide rally from the back while Castellano sought racing room behind the pacesetters, eventually splitting La Feve and Aunt Hattie with a strong burst to take command late in the lane.

However, Feel Glorious, racing in the clear outside of her rivals, maintained her good momentum and got up to win her North American stakes debut by a head, hitting the wire in 1:42.13.

Feel Glorious, previously trained in Europe by George Baker, was transferred to Clement in advance of her victorious North American debut on March 9 at Gulfstream Park. She remains undefeated for her new connections.

“She was very impressive when she won at Gulfstream last time,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to Clement. “It was a similar kind of race. She was at the back, made one run, and got the job done. Today was obviously a better field and she got the job done. She's on the improving side.

“She'll be eligible for other stakes coming up,” continued Lorieul. “The question for us was the mile and a sixteenth today, which we were not sure would be her best distance, but she proved today that she can handle it.”

Cancel, aboard Feel Glorious for the first time in the afternoon, said he followed Clement's pre-race instructions to victory.

“She has some ability. They wanted me to cover her up and when I got to the quarter-pole, I just tried to get her in the clear,” said Cancel. “The trip worked out well. I just did what they asked, and as soon as I asked her by the quarter-pole, she gave me all she had.

“It didn't matter if they went quick or slow,” added Cancel. “With the ability that she has, she's pretty tactical. She can be closer to the pace or come from behind. We had an amazing trip. She'll keep on improving. It's just her second time out [in the United States] and she won a stakes, so she's proven she has the ability to belong here.”

Blowout completed the exacta, 1 1/2-lengths in front of La Feve. Aunt Hattie and Her Royal Highness completed the order of finish. Main-track only entrants Two Dozen Roses and It Justhitthe Wire were scratched.

Castellano said Blowout, who arrived at the Memories of Silver from a good second in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs, would have appreciated more pace to chase.

“There just wasn't any pace in the race. I tried to follow the instructions for us to wait and make one move, but I had to stalk and ran into some trouble. When she got through, she went up front, so she has a lot of fight. I like that,” said Castellano.

Bred in Great Britain by Mrs. E. C. Roberts, Feel Glorious banked $55,000 in victory, improving her record to three wins and one second from seven career starts. She paid $9.20 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing returns at the Big A on Saturday for the closing day of the spring meet, highlighted by the $100,000 Woodhaven [Race 6] along with the Park Avenue [Race 8] and Times Square [Race 9] divisions of the New York Stallion Series Stakes. There will be a mandatory payout on all pools on Saturday. First post is 1:30 p.m.

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