Youalmosthadme overcame a buried inside trip, slipped through an opening along the rail, and wore down Halina's Forte in deep stretch to win Saturday's third running of the $215,000 Fern Creek by three-quarters of a length at Churchill Downs.
Youalmosthadme, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, ran 6½ furlongs for 2-year-old fillies in 1:17.67 on a fast track. For Gaffalione, it was his fourth win on the Stars of Tomorrow II card.
The victory was worth $131,990 for owners Qatar Racing LLC, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, and Black Type Thoroughbreds and increased Youalmosthadme's earnings to $493,940 with a record of four wins in six starts. She is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Oxbow and won the $200,000 Kentucky Juvenile against open company on Kentucky Derby Week earlier this year.
“She settled down the backside,” Gaffalione said. “I really had a lot of horse underneath me turning for home when she went through the opening at the rail. I don't think she won't go a mile. Maybe we can see her go a little further next year. She'll get some time off after this and hopefully come back better than she's been this year.”
Sent off as the odds-on 3-5 favorite, Youalmosthadme returned $3.56.
Fibber finished third, another 6¼ lengths back behind Halina's Forte.
Saratoga Secret, Field Lass, Ma Rae's Girl, Pinotslilgirl, Sharp Tune, Bella Haze, Irish Maxima and Talkin in Cursive completed the order of finish. Wellareyouhappynow was scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean, Marc McLean, and Pope McLean Jr., Youalmosthadme was produced by the Good and Tough mare Good Gator. John A. Hancock bought her from Pope McLean for $12,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
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