Five a Side Dominates Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park
In a thrilling display of speed and stamina, the equine athlete known as Five a Side galloped to an impressive win in the recent Groupie Doll stakes held at Ellis Park. This four-year-old filly, despite an initial jostle at the race's commencement, demonstrated remarkable resilience and power, ultimately leaving her competitors behind to claim a significant victory. This triumph marks a pivotal moment in her career, as she secured her inaugural stakes win, dramatically elevating her earnings and solidifying her status within the racing community.
The event, a listed stakes for fillies and mares, featured a substantial prize pool of $200,000. Five a Side, under the guidance of jockey Jaime Torres and trainer John Servis, represented Main Line Racing Stable and Avalon Racing Stables. From the outset, the race was hotly contested, with Cash Call, the favored contender trained by Bob Baffert, and Queen Azteca setting a brisk pace in the initial quarter-mile. Five a Side strategically positioned herself in third place, closely trailing the leaders.
As the race progressed along the backstretch, Five a Side, ridden skillfully by Jaime Torres, began to close the gap. By the halfway point, she was neck and neck with Cash Call, maintaining a strong presence as they rounded the turns. Entering the final stretch, Five a Side unleashed a burst of acceleration, leveraging her robust physique to gain a commanding lead. She extended her advantage with every stride, crossing the finish line with a remarkable lead of six and a quarter lengths, clocking an impressive final time of 1:35.72 on a fast track.
This victory was particularly sweet for Five a Side, as it represented her sixth attempt to secure a stakes win. Her prior successes included a maiden win at Parx in 2024, an allowance race on synthetic terrain at Turfway Park, and another allowance victory at Churchill Downs. Her consistent performances leading up to this race, including a third-place finish in the Marie Hulman George Memorial Handicap, hinted at her potential. With this win, her career record now stands at 17 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds, pushing her total earnings to an impressive $488,271. Cash Call, with Florent Géroux aboard, finished in second place, while Union Mist, ridden by Ben Curtis, surged from the middle of the pack to secure third.
Five a Side's dominant performance at Ellis Park underscores her burgeoning talent and potential for future successes in the competitive world of horse racing. Her ability to overcome challenges and deliver a powerful finish is a testament to her training and pedigree, promising an exciting future for this rising star.