Gil rolls home in Florida Oaks

Don’t Forget Gil made sure she will be remembered (Stephanie Van Minos/Tom Cooley Photography) Alan Brodsky’s DON’T FORGET GIL (Kafwain) took a short lead approaching the final turn, rallied after being challenged at the top of the lane and powered home an impressive four-length heroine of the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) over the fast main oval at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. Trained by Mark Hennig, the Empire State-bred winner completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 3/5 under Rajiv Maragh as the 6-5 choice to notch her second stakes win. Don’t Forget Gil paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.10 while keying gimmicks that were worth of $13.80 (exacta), $21.20 (trifecta) and $102.80 (6-4-2-1 superfecta). “This horse is something special,” Brodsky enthused. “She’s as good a horse as I’ve ever had, and I’m very happy with her. It’s been a really enjoyable day.” While Brodsky says he’ll wait to see how his filly emerges from the race before committing to any future races, he has big plans for Don’t Forget Gil.

“We’re going to look around and do what’s best for her,” he said. “Certainly
the Kentucky Oaks (G1) is a possibility. You know, from the Florida Oaks to the
Kentucky Oaks — we’ll go state by state.”

“I watched her last race (Suncoast) and knew she would be solid again today,”
Maragh said. “She had a problem in the gate that day, got shuffled back and was
still closing fastest at the end. She’s a New York-bred but I think there will
be other opportunities open to her as well.”

Ameribelle (Medaglia d’Oro) rallied strongly in between horses into the final
turn and stayed on well while no match for the winner. The 3-1 third choice gave
back $3.60 and $2.20. Rock Candy (Mineshaft) was five lengths back in third as
the 2-1 second choice, paying $2.20 in the process. Brinca (Macho Uno) was next
and followed by Dzibanche (Roar of the Tiger) and pacesetter Miss Ocean City
(Mineshaft), while Royal Ballade (Elusive Quality) was withdrawn.

“We got the perfect trip last time and beat this winner,” Carlos Montalvo,
who rode third-place finisher Rock Candy, said of his mount’s loss. “Today we
had some problems early and I had to send her up wide getting to the turn. She
was still trying hard but the top two just got the jump on us today when it
counted.”

Don’t Forget Gil improved her career line to 6-3-1-2, $201,867 with this
tally. The sophomore lass bagged the East View S. three back, which was followed
by a pair of close third-place finishes in the Busanda S. and Suncoast S. In
that latter race, she finished just two necks behind the respective one-two
finishers, Rock Candy and Ameribelle.

Bred by Jonathan Thorne, Don’t Forget Gil fetched a bid of $43,000 at the
2007 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred sale. She is the first black-type
scorer out of the stakes-placed Livermore Leslie (Mt. Livermore), who also has
an unraced juvenile filly named Lady Macqueen (Eurosilver) and an unnamed
yearling filly by Sharp Humor). This is the same family as Grade 2 victor Timber
Reserve (Forest Camp), Grade 3 hero Highland Gold (Slew O’ Gold).