BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Ed Pendray and Edward A. Seltzer’s Bluefield used a ground saving trip around the far turn, tipped out to the two path turning for home then arrested front-running Dream Concert in the final strides to win the $100,000 Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 9. The 7-year-old mare won her first stakes race in defeating six other eligible fillies and mares by registered Florida stallions going seven furlongs.

Ridden by Samy Camacho from post two, Bluefield broke evenly as 48-1 longshot Delta Charm shot to the front from post five but was quickly joined on the front by Dream Concert on the far outside. Bluefield came away sixth of seven coming out of the backstretch chute but was hustled into contention by Camacho after racing onto the main track.

Delta Charm took a length advantage down the backstretch to finish the first two furlongs in :21.91 before Dream Concert went to the front with a half-mile to the finish while Bluefield continued to track those two on the rail in third.

Dream Concert and jockey Antonio Gallardo took a length advantage around the far turn as Delta Charm surrendered and Atomically took second while three-wide and Bluefield kept her position on the inside.

Gallardo guided Dream Concert to the inside turning for home, forcing Camacho to steer Bluefield into the two path as they approach the final furlong. Dream Concert was still clear past the sixteenth pole but Bluefield closed the gap and got to the front in the final strides to win by neck in 1:22.47 on the fast track.

Dream Concert was four-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Atomically in third followed by Pacific Princess, Charlie’s Wish, Hihellohowareyou and Delta Charm.

“When I hit the three-sixteenth-mile marker and hit her on the left side, she gave me a lot of kick and I said ‘I can get it,’ ” Camacho said. “I’m real happy because I told my valet and my agent I wanted to ride this horse. All the credit goes to Bluefield and [trainer] Saffie Joseph.”

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Bluefield paid $5.80 as the 8-5 favorite.

“At the top of the stretch I thought she had a chance, but then (Dream Concert) kicked clear and I thought, ‘second place again,’ ” Joseph said. “Samy did a great job getting the rail when it presented itself, and I think that might have been the difference between winning and losing.

“This mare keeps getting better with age. She is in the best form of her life, and we’re going to continue to race her.”

Bluefield had most recently finished fourth in the Grade 3 Princess Rooney won by Three Witches going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 7. Her most recent victory came in the $60,000 Musical Romance overnight handicap going six-and-a-half furlongs at Gulfstream on July 7 just prior to finishing second to millionaire Yuugiri in the $100,000 Saylorville at Prairie Meadows going six furlongs on July 7.

The $60,000 first place check increased Bluefield’s career bankroll to $323,000 from eight wins in 20 starts with eight seconds and three thirds. Bred in Florida by Seltzer, Bluefield is by Field Commission out of Florida-
bred mare Imtheblues, by Pentelicus.

Bluefield is a half-sister to Grade 3 Winning Colors-winning Florida-bred Beat the Blues, by Great Pyramid (Ire) and two other winners from six starters out of
Imtheblues.