BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Nic’s Style got up in the final jump to win the $92,500 Minaret at Tampa Bay Downs Saturday for her third consecutive stakes victory and sixth win in seven career starts. Ridden to victory by regular rider Junior Alvarado, the 5-year-old Florida-bred mare was the best of eight fillies and mares as the 3-5 favorite in the six-furlong affair.
In addition to earning the $45,000 winner’s check, Nic’s Style took down $17,500 in Florida-bred bonus money presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Away evenly from post four, Alvarado allowed Nic’s Style to settle several lengths off the pace set by 2-1 second choice Dazzling Blue and jockey Edwin Gonzalez as they sprinted down the backstretch a length-and-a-half clear of Florida-bred R Harper Rose in second.
After quick quarter-mile fractions of :21.88 and :44.71, longshot Ruthless Rua tried to challenge Dazzling Blue coming out of the turn as Nic’s Style began making up ground with a four-wide move and four lengths to make up.
Dazzling Blue was still two lengths clear past the furlong marker as Nic’s Style continued to close in while wrestling second from Ruthless Rua. Dazzling Blue continued to lead by a length at the sixteenth pole before Nic’s Style drew even in the shadow of the wire to win by a nose in 1:09.16 on the fast track. Dazzling Blue finished two-and-a-half lengths in front of Ruthless Rua in third followed by Broken Hearts, Miuccia, Sing a Little Song, R Harper Rose and Opus Forty Two.
Nic’s Style paid $3.20 to win.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for Stephen Rousseau, Nic’s Style began her win streak with two seven-furlong victories including a three-and-a-quarter-length triumph in the $150,000 Pumpkin Pie (Listed) during the Belmont at Big A meet on Nov. 3. She finished her year at Tampa Bay Downs by taking the $98,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes City of Ocala by two-and-a-half lengths on Dec. 14 in her last out.
Nic’s Style began her career winning a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in 2022 before being sidelined for 19 months. She returned with a vengeance in December of 2023, winning a first level, $20,000 optional claiming by more than 10 lengths at Gulfstream but it was another eight months before making her first start for Mott at Saratoga in August of last year. She won a first level allowance by nearly six lengths then suffered her only defeat when second to Way and Means in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom over a sloppy six-and-a-half furlongs during the Belmont at Big A meet in September.
An earner of $328,400, Nic’s Style was a $25,000 purchase by Rousseau out of Francis and Barbara Vanlangendonck’s Summerfield consignment at the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale.
Nic’s Style is by Uncaptured and is the only stakes winner from five foals out of the Street Sense mare Sense When. All bred by Kenneth D’Oyen of Carson, Calif., Sense When has three Florida-bred starters, all winners, with an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Higher Power and a yearling colt by Mo Town. She was bred to Mandaloun in 2024.
Return to the February 8 issue of Wire to Wire
