Gerrards Cross and jockey Sonny Leon leave the field behind. (Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
Tom Luicci/Monmouth Park
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Whatever pre-race notions there were about a potential speed duel in Sunday’s Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park were quickly dismissed a few jumps out of the starting gate.
Gerrards Cross was not only the speed of the speed in the five-furlong turf dash for 2-year-old fillies, but she also never gave any of her seven competitors a chance to make a serious bid.
Breaking alertly and then kept to her task by jockey Sonny Leon through quick early fractions, Gerrards Cross rolled to a 2½-length victory in the $100,000 feature, leaving the field in her wake.
The winning time over a firm turf course was :57.50.
“She’s just natural with her speed. Look at the fractions,” said winning trainer Kathleen O’Connell. “You could see she was doing it easily. I don’t think she necessarily had to have the lead. I just think she needed to get out of there and be forwardly placed.”
Sent off at 13-1 for her grass debut despite a six-length win sprinting on the dirt at Gulfstream Park on June 6 when she launched her career, Gerrards Cross managed to get the jump on a field brimming with speed and never wavered, blazing through fractions of :21.29 and :44.71 at the outset.
The Florida-bred daughter of Midshipman was bred and is owned by James M. Chicklo.
Slick Merlin, the only Jersey-bred in the field, was second, a half-length better than Nacho Problem.
“I worked the filly last week, and she worked very good,” said Leon. “I feel she has a lot of talent. Once I saw that, I said to my agent I think we should stay with her because (Kathleen O’Connell) supporting me.
“She was ready for the race today. She ran like a bullet.”
O’Connell, who has had success with Midshipman offspring and the family line of Gerrards Cross, said she always felt turf was in the future for the filly
“Even though she had all of that (turf) pedigree we decided to try her on the dirt for her first start. She had worked well over it,” said O’Connell. “Since there were no Florida Stallion Stakes for her, and she is by Midshipman I suggested to Mr. Chicklo to move her up north so we could get real turf and if we didn’t get turf, we already knew she liked the dirt.
“She’s got a great mind and that helps a lot, but you always worry about a surface change. She has been such a good filly mentally it lessened the concern.”
Race favorite Spinelli, trained by Joe Orseno was fourth. Spectacular Grey, purchased on Tuesday for $625,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale, finished last at 9-5 in her turf debut. The Wesley Ward-trained Pulstar was never a serious factor either, finishing sixth.
