BY BROCK SHERIDAN
HALLANDALE BEACH—Although Florida-bred Spirited Boss had won two of her first three starts—all on the Gulfstream Park synthetic course—trainer Jose D’Angelo suspected the Florida-bred filly would further improve on grass.
Spirited Boss resoundly affirmed her trainer’s analysis at Gulfstream Park Saturday with an impressive victory in the $158,000 Sanibel Island. A homebred for TAG Stables, Spirited Boss defeated nine other 3-year-old fillies going seven-and-a-half furlongs on the turf to earn $96,350, including $8,000 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
“She was special since day one,” D’Angelo said. “I worked her several times but on the grass, she moved different. We thought it would be best to race her here on the grass, because of what she had shown in the mornings and we were right this time. She worked well on dirt, going [four furlongs in [:47.30 on March 21 at Palm Meadows]. But she is just so smooth on the turf.”
Spirited Boss worked four furlong on the Palm Meadows turf in :46.90 on March 14.
Sent to the post at odds of 12-1, Spirited Boss and jockey Javier Castellano raced mid-pack on the outside as Bunratty Manor (Ire) raced clear on the front end through a half mile in :46.56 on the firm turf. Spirited Boss began to advance between horses around the far turn then shot to the lead in the stretch to win a half-length over Candy Quest in second with Civetta another half-length back in third. They were followed in order by Classic Q, Love Cervere, Bunratty Manor, favored La Cantera (Ire), Florida-bred Mrs Worldwide, Annie Goodbody and Temple City Taboo. Witchcraft was scratched.
Spirited Boss paid $26.40 to win.
Spirited Boss had a difficult start to her career, finishing third after getting bumped at the start of a maiden special weight for Florida-bred fillies going five furlongs on Dec. 19. She rebounded to win by four-and-a-half lengths under the same conditions on Dec. 22 then won a first level allowance for Florida-bred fillies going a mile-and-70-yards on March 1.
She has now earned $162,750 in her four races.
Spirited Boss is by Street Boss out of Spirted Storm, by Stormy Atlantic. She is the fifth foal out of Spirited Storm, all are winners including Uncaptured Spirit, by Uncaptured, who was graded-stakes-placed. Spirited Boss is her only stakes winner.
Spirited Boss is the first Florida-bred winner of the Sanibel Island.
Return to the March 29 issue of Wire to Wire
