Alice Muller’s TAKE D’ TOUR (Tour d’Or) bounded to the front at the start of the
$147,000 Shuvee H. (G2)
and never looked back, trouncing her more ballyhooed
rivals by 5 1/2 lengths at the wire. Trained by David Fawkes, the five-year-old
chestnut dictated the way through splits of :23 1/5,
:46 1/5 and 1:10 4/5 before completing the one mile over the fast track in
1:36. The lass was ridden by Cornelio Velasquez and rewarded her backers with mutuels of $14.40, $6.90 and $4.10 while topping the $111 exacta and $382 trifecta
(4-2-3) at 6-1.
“When they went an opening quarter in :23 1/5, I was very happy,” Fawkes
said. “I didn’t think she’d ever win this race that easy. The little bit of rain
we had throughout the day tightened the track up and helped her. She’s got her
quirks, but she just keeps moving up.”
Balletto (UAE) (Timber Country) made a nice move turning for home but had no
chance with the winner late, settling for the place while 5 3/4 lengths clear of
third. The nearly 11-1 shot was good for $9.40 and $5.80. Smuggler (Unbridled) appeared
to be moving into a good striking position along the backstretch but flattened out
when the real running began, ultimately winding up third. The 2-1 second
choice paid $3.60 for the show. Grecian Lover (Friendly Lover) was next and
followed by 4-5 favorite Indian Vale (A.P. Indy), who stumbled at the break,
raced forwardly in the early stages and then faded.
Take D’ Tour upped her mark to 15-6-5-0 with earnings of $208,240. This was
the first stakes win for the five-year-old, who was exiting a pair of superb
wins in allowance/optional claiming company at Gulfstream Park.
The winner was bred in the Sunshine State by Paul Muller and produced from
the winning Cherry Flare (Mr. Washington).
Fawkes said that the June 17 Ogden Phipps H. (G1) “is a good possibility” for
Take D’ Tour.