Vigilantes Way Steals Away to Victory in Saturday’s Tropical Park Oaks

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Phipps Stables’ Vigilantes Way stole away to victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream Park after jockey Julien Leparoux took things into his own hands with a well-judged front-running ride.

The Tropical Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, highlighted Saturday’s 11-race program along with the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, and the $75,000 H. Allen Jerkens, a 2-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

The Shug McGaughey-trained Vigilantes Way broke alertly to take the lead heading into the first turn and never looked back, resisting mild early pressure from longshot Blue Mistress and pulling away to a 2 1/4-length victory in 1:40.61 built on fractions of 23.91 and 47.66 seconds for the first 1/2-mile.

A half-sister to Mr. Speaker, who captured the 2013 Dania Beach (G3) over the Gulfstream turf, Vigilantes Way was the second stakes winner of the day for Julien Leparoux, who guided Sir Anthony to an upset victory in the Jerkens.

“Nice day today, beautiful to win 2 stakes. The horses ran great, so we’re happy with that, it’s been a great day,” Leparoux said. “I was not expecting to be on the lead, but she broke very sharp and she was doing it very nicely. She relaxed for me on the backside, and from there, she was very comfortable the whole time. When I asked her in the stretch, she won nicely.”

More Than Unusual closed to finish second, a nose ahead of Speaktomeofsummer. Completing the order of finish came Mo of the West, Stunning Sky, Ask Bailey, Virginia Beach, American Giant, Windracer, and Blue Mistress.

Good Credence (Main Track Only), Lindy Lou, and Secret Time scratched.

Vigilantes Way registered her first stakes victory Saturday in 4 starts on turf, which include an allowance win and two stakes placing.

“She’s a half-sister to Mr. Speaker and he liked the grass, so we always had that in mind,” McGaughey said. “She’s been a pleasant surprise. As a yearling, she was a little bit of a small, immature filly, and she’s still small. But she’s matured out and her races have all been very good.”

McGaughey said Vigilantes Way would be pointed toward another stakes at Gulfstream.

Vigilantes Way returned $7 to win, $4.40 to place, and $3.20 to show. More Than Unusual brought back $8.20 to place and $5 to show, while Speaktomeofsummer paid $4.20 to show.