Gaining a graded stakes-placing in the GII Pocahontas S at 2, SPLASHY KISSES opened her 3-year-old campaign adding more graded black-type to her pedigree page running 3rd in the G3- Sweet Life S at Santa Anita.
SPLASHY KISSES was one of the five 2-year-olds purchased as yearlings in 2017 under the name Gulfstream Gallop sold at the 2018 Gulfstream auction. The Blame filly was a maiden winner at Del Mar in August and finished second in the GII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs.
“We feel great about last year’s results,” Elser said. “That vindicates the project. We have some later-developing horses who ran well first time and look like they are okay. But to have the one filly be graded placed in the first small group of relatively inexpensive horses is very gratifying. I’ve checked with everybody who has one and they are pleased enough. They are going to win their share, they think.”
After putting a toe in the water last year, Elser’s client decided to increase his investment going into the 2018 yearling sales.
Gulfstream Gallop opened its 2018 yearling purchases with a $50,000 colt by Bayern at the Fasig-Tipton July sale and purchased a colt by Flatter for the same price at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. It made its biggest purchase of the year with a $65,000 daughter of Street Sense one of three purchased at the Fasig-Tipton October sale.
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