Midshipman’s Dearest Gets First Graded Score in Sugar Swirl

The consistent sophomore Dearest took down her elders to score her first graded success at Gulfstream Saturday afternoon. Rushing up to press favored MGSW Stonetastic through a sharp opening quarter in :22.08, the chestnut then drew alongside her elder and the pair blazed along in tandem with Dearest sticking her nose in front just as they hit the half in :44.34. Closing the door on the chalk at the top of the lane, the crowd's second-choice rolled clear and held off a late-running You Bought Her to win it by a length.

“Instructions were at the break to put her behind [Stonetastic],” winning trainer Gilberto Zerpa said. “But Dearest had a really good break and was able to put herself in a great position. She is at her best right now and in optimal condition.”

A debut winner at Gulfstream Park West last November, Dearest followed suit with an optional claimer victory over this strip in January and checked in third to GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss) next out in the GII Davona Dale S. here a month later. Subsequently shelved, she returned with a six-length score in this venue's Royal Palm S. June 4 and captured the local Azalea S. July 2. The chestnut was last seen finishing second in Saratoga's GII Prioress S. Sept. 4.

Pedigree Notes:

Dearest is the second graded stakes winner by Darley's Midshipman, who was represented earlier this term by GII Royal North S. victress and 11-time stakes winner Lady Shipman, who was retired earlier this week. The winner is the first foal out of Keowee Clai, who has since produced the juvenile colt No Regrets (Lemon Drop Kid), a yearling colt by Lookin at Lucky and a weanling colt by Lemon Drop Kid.

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
SUGAR SWIRL S.-GIII, $100,000, GP, 12-17, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:09.59, ft.
1–@DEAREST, 118, f, 3, by Midshipman">Midshipman
1st Dam: Keowee Clai, by Cherokee Run
2nd Dam: Dootsie, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Skybox, by Spend a Buck
($72,000 Ylg '14 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '15 OBSMAR).
O-Gelfenstein Farm; B-Daniel J. Burke & Kathleen Schweizer
(KY); T-Gilberto Zerpa; J-Edgard J. Zayas. $62,000. Lifetime
Record: 7-5-1-1, $295,550. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”woodford-winning”][bullet ad=”blackburn-farm-foaled-raised-sold”][bullet ad=”kbif-g2g3″]2–You Bought Her, 119, m, 6, Graeme Hall–Striking T, by Smart
Strike. ($18,000 2yo '12 OBSAPR). O-Richard Perkins & Hinsley
Racing Stable; B-CLDelaplane & RGDelaplane Trust UA 6/1/92
& Shade Tree Thoroughbred (FL); T-David H. Hinsley. $20,000.
3–Stonetastic, 121, m, 5, Mizzen Mast–Special Me, by
Unbridled's Song. ($77,000 Ylg '12 KEESEP). O-Stoneway Farm;
B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY); T-Kelly J. Breen.
$10,000.[bullet ad=”machmer-hall-born-and-raised”][bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”]Margins: 1, 3 1/4, 3HF. Odds: 1.50, 5.30, 0.60.