Always Shopping Dominates La Prevoyante

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The even-money favorite for a reason, Repole Stable homebred Always Shopping dominated her rivals in Saturday’s $125,000 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Always Shopping broke well from the rail under Irad Ortiz Jr. and settled into a close stalking position in third while Aunt Hattie led Court Return and the rest through opening fractions of :23.39, :47.63, and 1:12.83.

Court Return advanced to the lead in the far turn with English Affair tracking close behind, and Ortiz Jr. tipped out Always Shopping to rally wide arond them.

Rolling to the lead near the top of the stretch, the Todd Pletcher trainee drew off in the stretch to win the 1 1/2-mile firm turf route by 3 lengths in 2:25.38.

“I got a perfect trip,” said Ortiz Jr. “I can’t complain. The filly put me in a good position. I tried to settle down and she settled down and she came back to me, and whenever I asked her, she responded very well.”

Delta’s Kingdom took second by 1 1/4 lengths over the longshot Irony of Reality, who necked out Sister Hanan for third.

Heavenly Curlin, Court Return, Cambeliza, Lovely Lucky, English Affair, Cap de Creus, Traipsing, and an eased Aunt Hattie completed the order of finish.

Always Shopping’s win was her second straight following the local Via Borghese Stakes last month and improved her overall record to 14-5-3-1. The 5-year-old Awesome Again mare, who also won the 2019 Gazelle Stakes (G2) on dirt, has now earned $475,105.

“(Adding) blinkers, back to turf, Todd does an amazing job,” said Mike Repole of Repole Stable. “I kind of like to bust his chops once in a while and ask him why it took so long to put blinkers (on). She’s figured it out and Irad has done an amazing job with her, too.”

Always Shopping returned $4 to win, $3 to place, and $2.60 to show. Delta’s Kingdom brought back $6.40 to place and $4.60 to show, while Irony of Reality paid $15.40 to show.