Ortiz takes Charlotte the Brit wire-to-wire on Gulfstream grass

Before yesterday’s ninth race at Gulfstream, other than a race where she clipped heels and lost her rider, Charlotte the Brit hadn’t finished worse than fifth in 18 consecutive starts. In that span, she posted six seconds, four thirds, two fourths and six fifths, slowly adding to a bank account that was inching toward the $200,000 level.

Yesterday, the 6-year-old mare by Treasure Beach, bred at Pleasant Acres by Joe and Helen Barbazon, had the services of Jose Ortiz, an Eclipse Award rider and a terror when he gets his mount to the front. And Ortiz displayed why he has achieved that reputation. He put Charlotte the Brit on the lead and lulled his fellow riders to sleep with a quarter in :25.60 and a half in :49.41 in the race at ‘about’ one mile over the turf course.

Charlotte the Brit responded by continuing on for a game neck victory, and rewarded her backers with a payoff of $43.60. While earning an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 86, she collected a check for $14,700, which increased her total to $174,525 on a record of 3-10-6 in 40 starts.

At Fair Grounds a short time later, the 4-year-old Treasure Beach filly Blissful Change, under Deshawn Parker, won for the second time in eight starts in a $51,000 allowance optional claimer. Bred by the Barbazons in partnership with Ed Seltzer and Beverly Anderson, she paid $26 and earned a check for $28,200.