HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Gary Barber’s I Get It flew from last of eight under a perfectly-timed ride to win Saturday’s $100,000 Sanibel Island Stakes Presented by US Foods at Gulfstream Park.
I Get It and jockey Jose Ortiz broke from post 7 as the 5/2 second choice and took back to trail heading into the clubhouse turn. Joy of Painting set an easy pace, posting fractions of :24.64, :49.08, and 1:13.21 while running unpressured.
Beginning to advance through the far turn, I Get It quickly found herself four abreast at the top of the stretch as Joy of Painting clung desperately to her shrinking lead.
The 2/1 favorite World Tour shot to the rail as I Get It rallied down the middle of the lane with Hit the Woah between them, turning the final furlong into an all-out tussle.
The Ronald Spatz-trained I Get It kicked ahead late to win the firm turf mile route by a 1/2-length in 1:36.11.
“My plan was to save ground on the first turn and try to keep her clear on the second turn and not get her in trouble,” Ortiz said. “I was just waiting for the spot to go. The pace wasn’t very hot, so I wasn’t able to drop in all the way. When I made my move, she responded very good. She has a beautiful turn of foot.”
World Tour headed Hit the Woah for second, while Line Dancing made a late push to take fourth by a 1/2-length over Coworth Park.
Joy of Painting, La Libertee, and Ball Lightning completed the order of finish in the race restricted to 3-year-old fillies.
I Get It’s win was her first in a stakes and came in her second attempt at the level, having finished fourth in January’s Ginger Brew Stakes. The Maryland-bred Get Stormy filly’s record improved to 9-5-0-1 with $156,278 earned.
“We’re real proud of her,” Spatz said. “We bought her as a yearling when she was kind of small and weedy-looking. I love Get Stormy, so we took a shot with her. You can’t measure their heart when they’re young, and she’s just got a huge heart.”
I Get It returned $7 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.80 to show. World Tour brought back $3 to place and $2.40 to show. Hit the Woah paid $5 to show.
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