Earns Invitation to Royal Ascot and $25,000 FSRI Bonus
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Liberty Rings led at every pole on her way to a length-and-a-quarter upset at odds of 7-1 in the $125,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Ridden to victory by Miguel Vasquez for trainer Nicholas Palmer, Liberty Rings defeated five other 2-year-old fillies going five furlongs on the turf while also earning an automatic entry into one of six juvenile stakes during the Royal Ascot meeting in June at Ascot Racecourse. She also gets a $25,000 equine travel stipend.
In addition to the $62,500 winning check, Liberty Rings picked up a $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive paid directly by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association with $20,000 going to owners David J. and Teresa Palmer and $5,000 to breeder Janet Erwin. Of the four races for 2-year-olds held this summer at Gulfstream Park, all have been won by Florida-breds eligible for the FSRI bonus.
“She looks like a turf horse, big and scopey and a large foot. We figured it was worth a shot. We really don’t get a chance to run in races like this very often,” Nicholas Palmer, the owners’ son, said.
Florida-bred Sass Sass broke fastest of all from post six before Liberty Rings promptly sprinted to the front after leaving gate two. Liberty Rings was quickly a length in front of Sass Sass and Joker’s Chic down the backstretch and around the turn, finishing the first two furlongs in :21.78. Sass Sass tried to get close in the lane but Liberty Rings kept a safe clearance while drifting out, winning by a length-and-a-quarter in :56.58 on the firm turf. Florida-bred Pros and Cons came on late to get second with Sass Sass completing the Florida-bred trifecta. Odds-on favorite Pot’s Right was fourth with Joker’s Chic and Mo Town Foxy Brown completing the order of finish. Easy Life, Dee Snook (Ire) and Florida-bred Boots were scratched.
“Not surprised she made the lead. Surprised in her first race she wasn’t loose on the lead,” Palmer said. “But I think that race really tightened the screws and got her focused.
“It’s a career defining moment. We’ve been trying really hard to win a stakes, so this is a big deal for us.”
Liberty Rings paid $17.60 to win.
Third in her debut in a maiden special weight won by Florida-bred colt Ford Roadster on April 19, at Gulfstream, Liberty Rings increased her career earnings to $70,200. Nick Palmer purchased Liberty Rings as an agent for $27,000 out of last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Camelot Acres Racing and Sales.
America First has two foals, both winners.
This is the second consecutive year a Florida-bred has won the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies after Lennilu took last year’s edition. Lennilu, now a multiple stakes winner of $301,254 for a large partnership headed by Amy and Cailin Dunne, was second in the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
Return to the May 9 issue of Wire to Wire
