Close finishes highlight soggy FSS Day at Gulfstream

Jacks or Better Farm and trainer Stanley Gold made out like gangbusters on Saturday thanks to back-to-back one-two finishes in stakes on the Florida Sire Stakes (FSS) program at Gulfstream Park.

Homebreds Ballet Diva and Silent Prayer really gave their connections something to cheer about when crossing under the wire in that order in the $300,000 Susan’s Girl division of the FSS for two-year-old fillies.

That pair finished third and second, respectively, in the first leg of the FSS series for juvenile fillies, the August 8 Desert Vixen, behind It’s High Time. Ballet Diva was the prohibitive 1-5 favorite on that day and went off the 8-5 second choice in the Susan’s Girl.

It’s High Time led nearly every step of the way in the Desert Vixen, but this time around found herself trailing in the show spot as Ballet Diva maintained her grip on the lead throughout the seven-furlong contest.

The Hear No Evil filly set splits of :22.63, :45.57 and 1:11.60 under Jose Caraballo while chased by It’s High Time. Silent Prayer actually broke on top after being reluctant to load but eventually settled into midpack. She came six wide at the three-sixteenths pole, easily passed a laboring It’s High Time but just could not get to her stablemate before the wire hit in 1:26.12 on the sloppy, sealed track.

Ballet Diva photo courtesy of Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography

Jacks or Better Farm and Gold nearly swept the day’s juvenile FSS divisions two races later when Abercorn just caught up to Tribal Drama on the wire of the $300,000 Affirmed for colts and geldings.

Unfortunately Tribal Drama managed to hold by a neck on the line while stopping the clock in 1:25.61 under Eddie Castro. The David Fawkes trainee is now two-for-two having broken his maiden by 5 3/4 lengths on August 2 at Gulfstream.

Tribal Drama photo courtesy of Leslie Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography