Fluffy Socks Skims Rail to Steal Selima

BALTIMORE, MD – Head of Plains Partners homebred Fluffy Socks skimmed her way up the rail in the stretch to steal Saturday’s $150,000 Selima Stakes at Pimlico.

Fluffy Socks broke from the innermost post under Trevor McCarthy at 6/1 odds and sat well off toward the rear heading into the clubhouse turn.

Up front, her Chad Brown stablemate Domain Expertise led narrowly along the outside of the 8/5 favorite Invincible Gal through opening fractions of :25.57, :51.36, and 1:17.17.

Still saving ground near the rear as the field straightened for home, Fluffy Socks waited until an opening appeared near the 3/16 pole before darting through and surging her way toward the front.

Taking command inside the 1/8 pole, Fluffy Socks inched ahead late to win the 1 1/16-mile yielding turf route by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:50.74.

Though unable to keep the winner at bay, Invincible Gal held second by a neck over Tic Tic Tic Boom, who was rallying furiously from last after spotting the field several early lengths.

Zeyaraat, Golden Voice, Line Dancing, and an empty Domain Expertise completed the order of finish.

Celestial Cheetah was scratched in the race restricted to 2-year-old fillies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RhG6Pgnfhs

Fluffy Socks’ win was her second straight following her maiden-breaking effort while going 1 mile at Kentucky Downs and improved her overall record to 3-2-0-0. The daughter of the 2015 Manhattan Stakes (G1) champion Slumber (co-campaigned by Head of Plains Partners) has now earned $146,880.

Fluffy Socks returned $14.40 to win, $5 to place, and $3 to show. Invincible Gal brought back $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show, while Tic Tic Tic Boom paid $5.60 to show.