4-year-old filly debuts for third straight win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Florida – In Italian, Peter Brant’s British race, which debuted with back-to-back wins, took an early lead and never lost it, fending off a furious late bid from Wakanaka to capture the Honey Fox (G3) from $150,000 from Saturday to Gulfstream Park.

The 37th race at the one-mile Honey Fox for fillies and mares 4 years and older was the fifth of nine stakes, eight classified, worth $1.7 million over a spectacular 13-race program with leading poster for the $400,000 (G2) Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth for 3-year-olds on the road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on April 2.

Renamed in 2001 to honor the Florida-bred mare who won nine starts and 13 of 25 career starts, including three sophomore races, including the 1981 Orchid at Gulfstream, the Honey Fox was raced as Joe Namath Stakes in 1985 and Joe Namath Handicap from 1986-2000. It was the fourth of six support entries led by Mac Diarmida (G2) to $200,000.

Favored 5-2 in a field of 11, In Italian ($7.40) covered the distance in 1:35.16 on a firm turf course. It was the second win of the day for Brant, trainer Chad Brown and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who teamed with Virginia Joy in the $150,000 The Very One (G3).

Breaking with post 9, In ​​Italian intended to be in front and got the better of their rivals, followed by Quinoa Tifah on the rail, compatriot Navratilova in the clear in third and normally winner of the 2nd year Jouster settled into fourth.

In Italian, he turned towards the house ahead as Navratilova lined up outside and Jouster passed through an opening alongside the rail. Ortiz occupied In Italian and edged out Navratilova, who was edged out for second place by Wakanaka’s spectacular late run. Sugar Fix, sent off at 16-1, ran fourth, with Jouster fifth.

A 4-year-old daughter from Dubawi, In Italian entered the Honey Fox after winning back-to-back gate-to-wire wins. She beat her maiden last May at Belmont Park and did not run again until winning an open allocation on January 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.

$150,000 Quotes from Honey Fox (G3)

The winning coach Chad Brown (in Italian): “We really liked this horse last year. She was very impressive at Belmont, and then she got severe pneumonia. She had to be arrested and rehabilitated. I want to pay tribute to Bruce Jackson at Fair Hill. He rehabilitated her and sent her back in good shape at the end of the year to Payson Park. She’s back and picking up where she left off and should have a very good career.

Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (in Italian): “It went perfectly. We didn’t want to go against each other, but my filly topped them all, so I said, ‘I’m going to go.’ From there, she took me all the way I didn’t expect to be in the lead It looked like there were a few horses coming out of the sprint races but when the gates opened everything changed She was on top so I just said “Go ahead”.

Gulfstream Park Press Release

Photo: in Italian (Coglianese photo)