Fuzzy Britches Takes Dearly Precious
With a determined run through the stretch, Lansdon B. Robbins, III’s Fuzzy Britches came from off the pace to take the 16th running of the $65,000 Dearly Precious Sunday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, earning her second victory of the year and first ever in a stakes.
Ridden by New York’s leading jockey, Ramon Dominguez, the dark bay daughter of Pollard’s Vision was content to settle in third as Wild News led the field of five 3-year-old fillies through fractions of 22.66 and 46.34. Moving into striking position on the turn, Fuzzy Britches launched her bid from the outside and took command inside the furlong marker, holding off the late flurry by Judge Sonya to win by a half-length.
Her time for the six furlongs was 1:11.88 over the fast inner track.
“She was pretty settled and she showed a little more tactical speed today than she has before,” said Dominguez, who last month rode Fuzzy Britches to win an allowance race in her first start of 2010. “There was not really a whole lot of pace in the race. She’s one of those who will relax, but when you ask her to go she gives you her run.”
Fuzzy Britches returned $3.80 as the 4-5 choice in running her lifetime record to 3-2-2 from seven starts, including a second-place finish in the one-mile, 70-yard Busanda Stakes on January 9 on the heels of her allowance win.
“The last time she ran with only three days in between races, so that might have been a little too quick,” said trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr.’s assistant, Juan Rodriguez. “With the time off, I expected her to run much better today. I think she’s better sprinting than going longer.”
The Dearly Precious winner’s purse of $39,000 boosted Fuzzy Britches’ earnings to $148,100 for Robbins and co-owner AZ Azalea Stables.
Following runner-up Judge Sonya under the wire were Wild News, Indian Burn and Sweet Venom. Bellflower and Gator Prowl were scratched.