Millionaire Fluffy Socks picked up her fourth graded victory May 18 as she pulled away from a small field in the $99,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3T) at Pimlico Race Course.
After consistently facing some of the best in her division, Fluffy Socks found herself in some easier company as a rain-softened turf course left her with only four competitors.
Settling in fourth about three lengths off the lead, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat Fluffy Socks behind a dawdling pace set by the pair of Blissful and Tequilera . After fractions of :25.60, :50.59, and 1:16.81, Ortiz called on the 6-year-old mare and she responded.
“Turning for home I just asked her and she did her thing,” Ortiz said. “I don’t think all the horses in the race liked the way the ground is, and she does. She loved the soft, it worked out perfect.”
Rallying in the middle of the track, the daughter of Slumber powered away to win by 7 3/4 lengths, stopping the clock for the 1 1/16 miles in 1:49.79 and paying $3.20 to win.
Despite being a heavy favorite, trainer Chad Brown was impressed that she was able to win the way she did given the pace.
“It was no given (with) the soft turf and slow pace, because she’s failed before at slow paces,” Brown said. “I was really proud of her that she was able to overcome that. … I feel now it’s time to step back up into a bigger race.”
The win was Fluffy Socks’ first in a year and sixth overall in 26 starts. Owned by Head of Plains Partners, she increased her career earnings to $1,263,580. With the victory, Fluffy Socks earned an automatic entry and travel incentive to the Aug. 18 Prix Jean Romanet (G1) at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse in France.
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Dettori Gets First Victory at Pimlico in Dinner Party
International superstar jockey Frankie Dettori earned his first victory at Pimlico Race Course aboard Balnikhov in the $500,000 Dinner Party Stakes (G3T).
Balnikhov, with Frankie Dettori, wins the Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
Breaking last in the field of nine, Dettori never looked concerned. Chasing Helm’s Deep‘s slow fractions of :26.42, :52.77, and 1:18.71over the soft turf, Dettori slid Balnikhov through openings on the inside around the far turn before pointing into the clear for the stretch drive. He hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths in front, finishing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:58.90 and paying $12.80 to win.
“The horse loved the soft,” Dettori said. “He went through it like a hot knife through butter. I only had to find a way out and he did the rest.”
Longshot Crabs N Beer also closed well to finish second and Running Bee , who pressed the pace, held for third.
Based in California with trainer Phil D’Amato, this is the second graded stakes Balnikhov has won on the road, having won the 2022 Bryan Station Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.
Gary Fenton, co-managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing who owns the horse along with Madaket Stables and Old Bones Racing Stable, said the 5-year-old Adaay gelding is likely to head back to California with a target painted on the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar.
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