BY BROCK SHERIDAN
R Adios Jersey led from start to finish to win the $65,000 Sheer Drama by six-and-a-half lengths against six other Florida-bred fillies and mares going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez and trained by Georgina Baxter, the 5-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud stallion Adios Charlie also took down a $25,000 Florida Sire Stakes win bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Racing with blinkers off for the first time in her career, R Adios Jersey had little trouble showing her typical speed as she started quickly from post three and had a length on Restofthestory and Charlie’s Wish to her outside before they hit the six furlong pole. Down the backstretch, R Adios Jersey extended her advantage to a length-and-a-half through the first quarter mile in :22.45 as Restofthestory and Principia continued to give chase in second and third.
R Adios Jersey stretched her lead to two lengths around the turn with a :45.31 half-mile then drew off down the stretch to finish in 1:23.28 on the main track labeled good.
Charlie’s Wish was second with Race Day Speed third. Rosie’s Halo, Restofthestory, Chick’s Shadow and Principia completed the order of finish. Flakes was scratched.
Georgina Baxter – Coglianese Photo
“She was more like her old self today. I couldn’t be more proud,” Baxter said. “She has a big heart. Seven furlongs, blinkers off and Edwin gave her a great ride.”
R Adios Jersey returned $4.20 as the even-money favorite.
It was the first victory in five starts this year for R Adios Jersey and the first since winning the $100,000 Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala at Tampa Bay Downs in December. She started her 2023 campaign finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Inside Information won by fellow Florida-bred Maryquitecontrary on Jan. 28, then finished third to Frank’s Rockette in the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie on March 11. She was also second to Bluefield in the $60,000 Musical Romance overnight handicap on May 28 and second to Muted in an upper level, $62,000 optional claiming in her last start on July 1.
The $63,220 Sheer Drama payday by R Adios Jersey for owners Averill Racing LLC, ATM Racing and Jayson R. Werth increased her career earnings to $373,245 from winning half of 14 career starts, four of which were stakes, with two seconds and two thirds.
Bred by Ocala Stud and J. Michael O’Farrell Jr., R Adios Jersey is out of Marion Theatre, by Montbrook and was purchased by Averill Racing for $12,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at the 2020 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale. Marion Theatre has five winners from six starters with R Adios Jersey her only black-type performer.
