Gulfstream Park: Éclatant leads Cox exacta in Forward Gal

Stonestreet Stables’ homebred Éclatant, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Sáez, made an impressive 3-year-old debut when drawing away from 10 others to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $165,000 Forward Gal Stakes, a Kentucky Oaks (G1) points prep at Gulfstream Park.

Éclatant, a daughter of Into Mischief out of Scat Daddy mare Downside Scenario, covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.61 while beating stablemate Stunner by 1 1/4 lengths. The Queens M G was another length behind in third.

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After winning her first two starts at Churchill Downs in June and Keeneland in October, Éclatant finished third in the Golden Rod (G3) at Churchill ending her juvenile season in November.

“This filly had a perfect trip in the Golden Rod, and I would have never thought with the trip she got she would have gotten beaten eight lengths,” Cox said. “She’s a nice filly. Her first two races were really good. I thought she chased the bias second time at Keeneland and overcame it.

Éclatant broke sharp leaving the gate and was seventh leaving the chute as Rojo Rita, later disqualified to last for causing interference down the backstretch, set an opening quarter-mile pace of 22.04 seconds before being pressed by Stunner behind a 44.76-second half-mile.

Sáez moved up Éclatant up the backstretch and was behind Rojo Rita, Stunner and The Queens M G turning for home before taking the lead from her stablemate inside the final eighth of a mile.

“We broke from there pretty well,” Sáez said. “We followed the speed, and when we came to the three-eighths (pole), I felt like I had horse, and at the top of the stretch, she gave me a good kick. She was digging and digging and kept coming.”

Cox was pleased with both the winner and Stunner.

“They both performed well,” he said. “I think the long-distance goals for the both of them will be spots like the Test (G1) and the Eight Belles (G2) and maybe the Beaumont (G2). It was good to get a run into both of them this winter and get their seasons kicked off.”

Éclatant returned $10.00 for a $2 win ticket.

The race was worth 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points for the top five finishers.