Lori's Store Scores Popular Victory in Sunshine Millions F&M Turf

Favored Lori’s Store scored a popular victory in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park and led home an exacta for trainer Marty Wolfson. It was the fourth win over the Gulfstream Park grass course in 10 starts for the Miller Racing colorbearer, and she returned $4.00 to her backers. The 6-year-old mare hit the front in the stretch and reached the wire a half-length in front of stablemate E B Ryder. The final time for the 1 1/16-miles contest was 1:45.93.

 

“She was running pretty nicely,” jockey John Velazquez said. “I was a little closer than I wanted to be, but they went slow enough and they backed up and I got pushed to the outside. All I could do was wait there, bide my time and make a run down the lane. She finished up really well. The turf is a little soft, but they rolled it and the horses can get a good grip to it.”

 

Known for her late-running style, Lori’s Store stayed in close touch with the pace set by longshot Naval Command, who notched early fractions of :24.12 and :49.75 while chased by Unbridled Courage. Velazquez kept Lori’s Store in the clear on the outside as Unbridled Courage took over approaching the three-quarters split of 1:14.95. The daughter of El Prado accelerated to the lead in front of the grandstand and finished up well for her third stakes win at Gulfstream. E B Ryder came flying from the back of the pack to get second, while defending champion and former Marty Wolfson trainee Pink Poppy came up the fence to finish third.

 

“When [Pink Poppy] didn’t go to the lead, that’s when I started feeling good about it,” Wolfson said. ”They had them right where I wanted them, both of them. They both like to run outside. They both ran great—the other one (E B Ryder) hasn’t run for six months. They’re getting old now, they’re 6 years old now. I don’t know what’s next.”