Youalmosthadme runs away in the Myrtlewood (Keeneland Photo)
Keeneland Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— Jockey Tyler Gaffalione recorded his third win of the day when he rode favored Youalmosthadme to a 7-length victory in the fourth running of the Myrtlewood for 2-year-old fillies on the final Friday of Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet.
Trained by Brad Cox for Qatar Racing, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson and Black Type Thoroughbreds, Youalmosthadme covered 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.67.
Youalmosthadme, a Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate, is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Oxbow out of Good Gator, by Good and Tough. She earned $117,800 for today’s win to increase her career earnings to $361,950. The filly’s three wins in five starts include the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs.
Youalmosthadme paid $5.86, $3.14 and $2.64. Finishing second was Hot Beach, who paid $4.04 and $2.86 under Flavien Prat. Fibber, ridden by Mitchell Murrill, paid $3.66 to show.
Copper Em was fourth and was followed by Field Lass, Xtreme Smoke Show, Wellareyouhappynow, Xtreme Diva and Let Them Watch.
Quotes from the $200,000 Myrtlewood
Brad Cox (winning trainer of Youalmosthadme)
On what kind of horse it takes to go from routing to sprinting:
“Obviously a very sound one and an intelligent one, and she’s both. I’m very proud of her performance today. (Jockey) Tyler (Gaffalione) did a good job. He put her into position and she fired. She’s been acting in the mornings that – without a doubt – she’d improved over the last month or so. I like what I’ve seen from her since the Pocahontas (G3 at Churchill Downs Sept. 16, when she finished second going a mile), and I think the cutback helped out a good bit today as well.”
On the value of her ability to settle and then kick home in sprint races:
“You can be very good around one turn with that style. I’m not saying she’s limited to one turn, but we’ll probably keep her around one turn for the near future.”
Tyler Gaffalione (winning rider)
“She’s just really developed into a nice little filly. She’s honest, she’s quick out of the gate, she travels great and she punched home nice. That was a great effort and I’m very proud of her. All the credit goes to (trainer) Brad (Cox) and his team. I’m thankful to the connections for giving me this opportunity.”
Brian Lynch (trainer of runner-up Hot Beach)
“We got beat by a better horse. There is no excuse; she ran her race. All credit to the winner. (Hot Beach has) had a good 2-year-old year, and we will give her a little breather. We look forward to her as a 3-year-old. We will take her to Gulfstream (Park for the winter) and look for some stakes down there. Basically not over race her and get her ready for the spring back here.”
Flavien Prat (rider of Hot Beach)
“She stumbled out of the gate, but I don’t think I could’ve beat the winner anyway.”
Mitchell Murrill (rider of third-place finisher Fibber)
“She came running home and picked up the pieces to get third place.”
