Sadie Be Good rolls home an impressive winner for McLaughlin

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin was a perfect 2-for-2 Friday afternoon at Gulfstream Park. He saddled the first of his two maiden winners, Alasaal, in the fourth race, and followed with Sadie Be Good, the runaway winner of the sixth race.

 

The latter, the even-money favorite in the field of seven Florida-bred 3-year-old fillies, set the pace in the six-furlong race and rolled home a six-length winner. She was ridden by Jose Lezcano.

 

Owned by Namcook Stables LLC, Sadie Be Good is a daughter of Florida-based stallion Big Drama, the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner who won the 2011 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Friday’s race was Sadie Be Good’s second career start after a fourth-place finish as the favorite in her career debut at Aqueduct Dec. 18.

 

“She took a little while [to come to hand], but she has really improved and was coming into this race great,” McLaughlin said. “We ran her in New York first time and thought she would break like she did today and win. But she broke slow and finished fourth. I was a little worried because this race was quick back for us, but with her being a Florida-bred, and the owner living here, we decided to bring her down and run her against state-breds.”

 

McLaughlin said he would keep an eye on Gulfstream Park’s Florida-bred 3-year-old stakes program in the spring for Sadie Be Good. In the meantime, he will point her to an allowance race at the Championship Meet.

 

“We might even go back to open company, if we think she is that good,” McLaughlin commented.

 

Sadie Be Good returned $4 and completed the distance in 1:11.36.

 

McLaughlin’s other maiden winner, Shadwell Stable’s 5-year-old Alsaal, returned $5.60 as the favorite in the fourth race, a 1 1/16-mile turf event.