Stayers' Watch: Pan American Stakes, Orchid Stakes · 9.04.10
Late last month, Gulfstream Park hosted two of the major stayers’ races: the Pan American Stakes, and the Orchid Stakes, both gr. III events.
In the $150,000 Pan American on March 27, Bearpath, a 4-year-old bay gelding by Dynaformer, stalked pacesetter Brother Nick from the starting gate to the eighth-pole, then took over the lead and held off Never On Sunday, winning in a time of 2:32.60 for 1 1/2 miles on a turf course rated “good”. Pre-race favourite Never On Sunday rallied from fifth at the top of stretch to beat out Brother Nick by a neck for the place.
The next day, Speak Easy Gal, who had never gone farther than 1 1/16 miles before, stretched her front-running speed to wire the field over 1 1/2 miles in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes. The win was the 4-year-old filly’s third in a row, and the Orchid was her stakes debut. On a turf course rated good, Speak Easy Gal went directly to the front, setting relatively slow fractions. Challenged by Celtic Princess at the top of the stretch, Speak Easy Gal easily put her away, and led by 1 1/2 lengths by mid-stretch. Lady Shakespeare then made a final charge, but fell a head short at the wire. Nehantic Kat finished third. Final time: 2:28.46.
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