Lady's Island Makes It Two Straight in Gr. III Sugar Swirl
Saturday, December 12, 2020
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Averill Racing LLC and Matties Racing’s Lady’s Island survived an inquiry to successful defend her title in the $100,000, Gr. III Sugar Swirl at Gulfstream Park.

    The Sugar Swirl, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares, was one of five stakes on today’s program, including the $200,000, Gr. II Fort Lauderdale, a key prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 23.

    Lady’s Island’s front-running score came a day after owner Rich Averill and his partners retired their 10-year-old turf sprint star Pay Any Price following a second-place finish in Friday’s last race.

    The 6-year-old daughter of Greatness broke alertly under Emisael Jaramillo to show the way along the backstretch on her way to setting fractions of :22.12 and :44.54 seconds for a half mile. She continued to show the way into the stretch and maintained her lead while steadily drifting out. The Florida-bred mare shortened stride late but was able to hold off a late-running Bronx Beauty by a head. Cinnabunny, the even-money favorite ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., closed steadily in the stretch while racing in tight quarters to finish third, three-quarters of a length back. Lady’s Island ran six furlongs in 1:10.46 and paid $11.

    Ortiz claimed foul, but after a lengthy review, the stewards made no change in the order of finish.

     The successful title defense was the 17th victory in 34 career starts for Lady’s Island, who scored a front-running 9 ¾-length victory in last season’s Sugar Swirl.

    Owner Rich Averill said: “We don’t know what the future holds for her, this could be one of her last races.”

    Trainer Georgina Baxter: “I have had a couple of emotional days. I am so pleased she was able to defend her crown. They write her off, but to me, when she’s right, she’s one of the quickest fillies in America.
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