Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
Dan Illman, DRF
Girl Trouble earned her third consecutive victory with a facile triumph in the Futurity.
The New Jersey-bred daughter of Fast Anna, racing with Lasix for the first time, broke from post 9 in the 10-horse field, and pushed the early pace in between Alexis’s Storm and Blome after an opening two furlongs in 22.82 seconds.
Alexis’s Storm was the first to retreat, and Girl Trouble poked her head in front after a half-mile in 46.41. She rebuffed the turn challenge of Interpolate, then went about her business under jockey Paco Lopez to score by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:27.78 seconds. Longshot Empress Ariana rallied for second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Interpolate, who was bumped at the start and rushed up to get into contention. Majestic Creed, Lindalovesgold, Blome, My Sweet Khaile, Alexis’s Storm, and Shiny Slam completed the order of finish. Can’t Complain scratched.
Girl Trouble returned $4 as the betting favorite.
“The race before [Juvenile], we saw that the inside wasn’t that good, so we were very happy about her draw,” winning trainer Butch Reid said in a phone interview after the Futurity. “The outside post really helped her. We sat a nice trip just outside the speed and went on from there.”
Girl Trouble has hit the board in all seven of her starts. Third in the White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware going two turns on Oct. 14, she rebounded with an eight-length win when returned to sprinting in a first-level allowance at Parx on Nov. 1.
Four weeks later, she dominated the Future Stars Filly Division Stakes at Parx by six lengths.
Bred by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm, Girl Trouble was purchased for $15,000 as a yearling by Swilcan Stable. She races for Swilcan in partnership with LC Racing and has earned $202,500
Reid said he’s looking forward to stretching Girl Trouble out in distance and mentioned future one-turn mile stakes in New York or Maryland as future goals.