Five G takes down the Cash Run in her dirt return (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Back on dirt for her South Florida debut after back-to-back tries on the turf, Gatsas Stables’ homebred Five G was up to the task and responded with a front-running nine-length romp in Wednesday’s $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Cash Run at Gulfstream Park.
The fifth running of the Cash Run for newly turned 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the main track was the first of two stakes on a New Year’s Day holiday program, followed by the $165,000 Dania Beach for 3-year-olds.
Ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez for trainer George Weaver, Five G ($12.40) completed the distance in 1:38.11 over a fast main track in the first race of the year for sophomore fillies on the road to the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 30, a steppingstone to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in May.
“She worked very well on the dirt and when you’re trying to figure out what horses want to do and what’s best for them, you need to try things sometimes and she worked well enough on the dirt that we needed to try it,” Weaver said. “Obviously we’re happy, she likes the turf and the dirt. With that kind of performance, we’ll probably stick to the dirt now and try and get her on the Oaks trail.”
Five G, a New York-bred daughter of Vekoma that was one of two fillies supplemented to the race, broke alertly from her rail post in a field of seven and was in front through a comfortable first quarter-mile in 24 seconds pressed to her outside by stakes winner Andrea with Sweet Note tracking in third.
The half went in 46.74 with Five G still in front and Sweet Note taking over second from a retreating Andrea. Five G rounded the far turn and hit the top of the stretch in stride, opening up once straightening for home and cruising home for her second win from four career starts and first in a stakes.
“I left the race in the hands of Johnny. I said to just get her comfortable and see what she does. When they got into turn and he had the lead and the more they went on, other people were scrubbing and we weren’t scrubbing yet. I was like, ‘We might be alright here,’” Weaver said.
“It didn’t surprise me because she worked so well, but you just don’t know. Some horses are good turf horses and they work well on the dirt but they don’t give it to you. That’s why we needed to be in this race today, to find out,” he added. “It was an impressive race.”
Paradise City, sent off the 9-5 favorite, closed to be a distant second, 1 ½ lengths ahead of Unchained Elaine. Yellow, Fallon, Sweet Note and Andrea completed the order of finish.
“Pretty easy,” Velazquez said. “She broke really well, and I was trying to let the speed go. [Jockey Emisael] Jaramillo was on the outside [on Andrea]. When he got close to her she kind of went away from her, and I pulled her to be close to her and she got really on the bridle. After that I just let her get into her rhythm.”
Five G was second in the one-mile Tepin on the Aqueduct turf Nov. 17 in her prior start, 15 days after graduating second time out over the same course. She was seventh in her Aug. 22 debut on Saratoga’s main track.
“It wasn’t a good day for her. She came out of it a little roughed up and we took our time with her,” Weaver said. “We knew we wanted to try her on the dirt, based on what she was doing. The question was when. I looked at the fillies in here and thought it was a good place to find out. We’re very happy.”
Gulfstream’s series of dirt stakes for 3-year-old fillies continues with the $150,000 Forward Gal (G3) sprinting seven furlongs Feb. 1 and $200,000 Davona Dale (G2) going one mile March 1.
“These Oaks and Derby horses, there’s a bunch of spots. We’ll just map out something we think is going to get her there the right way,” Weaver said. “There’s plenty of options.”
