4-Year-Old Filly Registers Popular Gate-to-Wire Triumph

BALTIMORE – Klaravich Stable, Inc.’s Technical Analysis looked right at home in her first visit to historic Pimlico Race Course, notching her third graded-stakes score with a popular front-running triumph in Saturday’s $150,000 Gallorette (G3).

The 71st running of the 1 1/16-mile Gallorette for fillies and mares 3 and up on the grass was the second of 10 stakes, six graded, worth $2.75 million on a blockbuster 14-race program headlined by the 147th Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

Under jockey Jose Ortiz, Technical Analysis ($3.20) completed the distance in 1:41.40 over a firm course to give trainer Chad Brown his fourth Gallorette victory, previously winning with Zagora in 2012, Pianist in 2013 and Watsdachances in 2015. Brown and Ortiz will team up again later Saturday with Early Voting in the Preakness.

Favored at 3-5 over five rivals, Technical Analysis was quickest from the gate and in front through fractions of 24.37 and 48.54 seconds, tracked to her outside by 50-1 long shot Foggy Dreams. Crystal Cliffs, winner of the April 2 Sand Springs at Gulfstream Park in her comeback after nearly nine months away, saved ground on the rail in third until tipped out by jockey Tyler Gaffalione leaving the far turn. Crystal Cliffs engaged with the leader briefly before Technical Analysis sprinted clear down the lane to win by 3 ¼ lengths.

Crystal Cliffs was a clear second, three lengths ahead of In a Hurry. Out of Sorts, Karakatsie and Foggy Dreams completed the order of finish.

Bred in Ireland, Technical Analysis won the Lake George (G3) and Lake Placid (G2) in successive starts last summer at Saratoga. The Gallorette was just her second start since running second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland last October. She was beaten a half-length in the one-mile Plenty of Grace April 16 at Aqueduct, her first try against older horses.

Gallorette retired in 1948 as the world’s leading money-winning mare, with earnings of $445,535. She won 21 of 72 starts and placed in 39 stakes, capturing the 1945 Pimlico Oaks and being named champion handicap mare of 1946. She was elected to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 1962.

$150,000 Gallorette (G3) Quotes

Winning trainer Chad Brown, Technical Analysis: “She was able to take control of the race, which it looked like on paper, which made her the heavy favorite here. So relieved to see her respond. Once she took control of the race going down the backside, I felt pretty good. She got tested, by, what I think, is really good filly [Crystal Cliffs] turning for home that made her move early and tried her. I was very interested to see how she responded after her first race of the year [second in the Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct April 16] where she got a wide trip and got beat, It was a good, solid race, but the second race off the layoff would really tell the story to me where we are headed, and it looks like we are headed someplace good.”

Winning jockey Jose Ortiz, Technical Analysis: “I was just a passenger. She was much the best today. She looked like it on paper, and she just went out there and did what she had to do. Chad had her ready.”

“She’s a little quirky. You don’t fight with her. You just have to let her be happy and find a good rhythm. She was relaxed, is the main thing. She wasn’t paying attention to the infield, and I was very happy down the backside.”

“She keeps improving. Her speed and her turn of foot is dangerous in any race. I think she’ll be a contender in the division. Chad has a lot of them. He’ll decide where to place her next time.”