BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Stick Talk chased Holy Warrior down the backstretch and around the turn then wore down the leader in the final half-furlong to win the $75,000 Palm Bay overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Eight Florida-bred 2-year-olds traveled a mile on the main track with Stick Talk assigned the top weight of 124 pounds.
Jockey Edwin Gonzalez had Stick Talk out of the gate first but it was a three-horse sprint for the lead between Holy Warrior, Iolana and Stick Talk. Holy Warrior pushed to the front through a quarter mile in a comfortable :23.79 with Stick Talk stalking from a length-and-a-half back and they kept that order through six furlongs in 1:11.33. Holy Warrior was still in front in midstretch when Stick Talk began to chip away at the lead, eventually getting to win by two lengths in 1:40.27 on the fast track. Holy Warrior was second, five lengths ahead of Sir Angelus in third. They were followed in order by Souper Athlete, Iolana, Hot Rod, Awesome Noah and Slew Lady.
“He had one pace,” Gonzalez said. “I wanted to get my position right away and I kept following the speed. I was behind [Holy Warrior] and turning for home he was still in front of me, so I kept aggressive with him to the wire.”
Stick Talk was the 6-5 favorite and paid $4.60 to win for trainer Carlos David and owner William Belford’s Bell Racing.
A half-length maiden winner in his third start, Stick Talk was next fourth in the $150,000 Express Tour won by undefeated Florida-bred Sum of Success.
“His last workout was a little slow. Edwin has been winning all over the place. I have to give a lot of credit to him. He’s on fire,” David said. “I think he needed Edwin back and get on him. The distance helped him too.
“He’s been galloping so strong the last couple days. He worked hard to win this race today, he really did. I’m kind of wondering if he can get the two turns the way he carries himself. He’s very laid back and has a little bit of a kick at the end.”
The $45,000 first prize in the Palm Bay increased his career earnings to $126,300 from two wins and two seconds in five starts. Bell Racing bought Stick Talk for $80,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Stick Talk is by Girvin out of Spiel, by Speightstown and bred in Florida by Victoriam Farm Spiel ’24 based in Reddick, Florida.
Kelly Mahoney of Victoriam Farm purchased Spiel in foal to Runhappy for $55,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Spiel is a half-sister to Grade 1-placed, stakes-winner and stakes-producer Endless Chatter, Group 1-placed, stakes-winner Whitecliffsofdover and stakes-placed Berate. Spiel’s second dam is Grade 1 Frizette-winner Preach, dam of Grade 2-winner Pulpit.
Stick Talk is the only winner from four foals for Spiel.
Return to the October 3 issue of Wire to Wire
