She’s My Type Earns Black Type with License Fee Score

ELMONT, NY – Ghislaine Head’s She’s My Type commenced her 4-year-old year by displaying the stakes-winning form she showed as a sophomore, taking command in the stretch and pulling away from Robin Sparkles by 1 3/4 lengths to win Friday’s $100,000 License Fee for older fillies and mares going six furlongs on the Belmont Park inner turf.

The eighth running of the License Fee, rescheduled from April 25 because of inclement weather, saw Jakarta lead the nine-horse field through an opening 1/4-mile in 22.24 seconds on the firm course with Caravel in pursuit.

Caravel, under rider Nik Juarez, edged the initial pacesetter to record the 1/2-mile in 45.13, with She’s My Type gaining ground under jockey Hector Diaz Jr.

Out of the turn, She’s My Type was in third position with plenty of daylight in front, with Caravel and Jakarta positioned closer to the rail. The French-bred Dunkerque filly was game under Diaz Jr.’s right-handed encouragement, overtaking Caravel in the final furlong and repelling Robin Sparkles’ late rally to complete the sprint in a final time of 1:08.34.

She’s My Type, who won the Ginger Brew in January 2020 at Gulfstream Park and the Coronation Cup in July at Saratoga Race Course, netted a third stakes win at a third track for trainer Christophe Clement.

Making her first start since running seventh in the Music City in September at Kentucky Downs, She’s My Type impressed her conditioner in her first race in nearly 8 months, improving to 4-1-1 in 8 career starts since making a triumphant debut in December 2019 at Gulfstream.

Clement also said the victory could set up a more ambitious schedule later this meet, with the 7-furlong $200,000 Intercontinental (G3) on June 3 or the 1-mile $500,000 Longines Just a Game (G1) on Belmont Stakes (G1) Day June 5 under consideration.

“She settled well in mid-pack and did everything nicely and looked very comfortable,” Clement said. “We’ll bring her back and start looking for some bigger and better things. There is the Intercontinental in June and the Just a Game as well. If she comes out of this race in good shape and trains well, we can go that route.”

Off at 7/2, She’s My Type returned $9.50 on a $2 win wager and improved her career earnings to $225,080.

“Everything worked out perfect,” said Diaz Jr., who won his first career stakes at Belmont. “The instruction was to do whatever felt comfortable but to save ground. We got a good position and when I asked her to run, she responded.

“We knew there was speed in the race and the pace would set up perfect, but I didn’t want to be too far back,” he added. “In sprint races, the horses will keep running, especially on this turf course.”

Robin Sparkles, a Bruce Brown trainee making her stakes debut, bested Caravel by 3/4 of a length under Joe Bravo for runner-up status. The New York-bred Robin Sparkles is 4-2-0 in 7 career starts.

“I expected to be in front, but those guys were really using their horses pretty aggressively,” Bravo said. “My horse was relaxed and settled off the pace and she didn’t give up. She fought for second. I was proud of her.”

Following Caravel in the order of finish was Introduced, Flower Point, I’llhandalthecash, Lady Lawyer, Jakarta, and the favorite Sweet Melania finishing last.

Malibu Mischief, a Main Track Only entry, was scratched, as was Sadie Lady.