Rose Brier got to the winners circle in his first start since winning last fall’s $60,000 Bert Allen Stakes by capturing a $30,000 starter optional claiming race at Gulfstream late last week. The 7 year old Mizzen Mast gelding took on a modest field of five others and went gate to wire in the 1 1/16th miles test. Bred by William Backer, Rose Brier won by one-half length over Captain Dixie, crossed in 1:39.11 and paid $4.80 to his backers. Jockey Jose Lezcano directed the effort for the Panic Stable, LLC. The consistent Rose Brier has made 30 career starts now and has 11 wins, 8 runner-up finishes and 5 thirds for purse earnings of $331,726. Out of the El Gran Senor mare, Mexicali Rose, he was triumphant in both the ’14 and ’15 editions of the Allen Stakes, which were held at Laurel.
Another Virginia-bred saw her bankroll zoom past the $300,000 mark courtesy of a win last Friday at Aqueduct. Aix En Provence, bred by James Falk, took care of business against a small field of just three other horses in the $47,000 six furlong sprint for fillies and mares. The 8 year old daughter of Rock Slide took to the far outside through the turn, got the lead with 3/16ths to go and won by three lengths in 1:14.10. The Carol Fisher trainee earned her first win of the year in three starts and collected her 9th lifetime triumph from 49 outings. Aix En Provence, out of the Mutakddim mare, Parisiana, has been consistent in recent times, finishing 4th or better in 15 or her last 19 starts. She came into the race fresh off respective 5th and 8th place finishes to start the year but after the victory, has an impressive bankroll of $301,991.
Another consistent veteran Virginia-bred made his 44th start on Saturday at Parx and with a two length win, garnered his 7th career victory and 26th top three finish. Lawyer Dave, by Lawyer Ron out of Noworriesforme by El Corredor, competed in a one mile, $53,000 allowance optional claiming race. Amidst a field of six, the winner raced second through the third fraction, zipped to the front and opened up by three at the head of the stretch and crossed two lengths ahead of Gadget Man in 1:39.27. Bred by Lady Olivia at North Cliff LLC, Lawyer Dave paid $10.20 and pushed his career bankroll to $261,822. He was fifth in both the 2012 Van Clief Stakes at Colonial Downs and the 2014 Punch Line Stakes at Laurel.
Really Boppin closed out the week by capturing a 4 1/2 furlong claiming race at Charles Town Saturday night. The 5 year old Bop gelding has made all 19 career starts at Charles Town and collected his third win there with a tight 3/4 length win over Priceless Dancer. Bred by Jackie Hinson, Really Boppin beat six other sprinters in gate to wire form, crossed in :53.09 and returned $9.00. The victor raced two wide down the backstretch, cleared just before the quarter, held clear past the 1/16th pole and hung on for the win. Trained by William Aylor Jr. and owned by the Vermont Farm, Really Boppin is out of the Waquoit mare, Key Reality.
