Jeff Lowe
Saturday, January 31, 2009 |
Frolic’s Dream found trouble in her first career loss earlier this month, but she had a smooth journey and plenty of kick on Friday in scoring a clear victory in the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (G2) for three-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park.
The Smoke Glacken filly hit the gate at the start of the six-furlong Old Hat Stakes (G3) on January 4 at Gulfstream and came up a head short in finishing third to Gemswick Park and Elusive Heat.
In Friday’s seven-furlong Forward Gal, Frolic’s Dream pressed Gemswick Park through a quarter-mile in :22.86 before taking command on the turn and drawing off under jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan.
The 3-to-2 favorite in the field of six, Frolic’s Dream crossed the wire 2½ lengths in front of the closing Renda and completed the distance in 1:24.15 on a track rated as fast.
“This is the nicest filly I’ve ever ridden in my life,” said Bridgmohan, who registered his first Grade 2 win. “Unfortunately, we hit the gate last time and couldn’t make up enough ground, and we still almost took it.”
Renda finished ten lengths clear of third-place finisher Dr. Zic. Gemswick Park faded to finish fifth.
Trained by Marty Wolfson for owner Dare To Dream Farm, Frolic’s Dream went undefeated as a juvenile in three starts at her home track, Calder Race Course. She scored by 12¾ lengths in the 5 1/2-furlong Cassidy Stakes on October 18 and closed the year with a victory in the seven-furlong Joe O’Farrell Juvenile Stakes on November 8.
“She ran today pretty much like she did when she won the [Joe O’Farrell],” Wolfson said. “She probably should be undefeated. If she draws an outside post rather than inside in her last race, she probably wins it. I think seven-eighths is her game and her limit might be a one-turn mile.”
Bred in Florida by Robert Murphy and Dr. Sandy Price-Murphy, Frolic’s Dream has won four of her five starts and earned $260,934. She is a half sister to stakes winner Frolicing.
Her dam, Flashy Frolic, by Premiership, is a half sister to multiple graded stakes winner Smok’n Frolic, who also is by Smoke Glacken.