Forum Racing's Birdatthewire flipped the script on familiar rivals Ekati's Phaeton and Eskenformoney March 28 with a closing victory in the Gulfstream Park Oaks.
Favored at 8-5, the 3-year-old daughter of Summer Bird was steadied in the backstretch, but still had enough to rally under urging from Irad Ortiz Jr. She completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.40 on a Gulfstream Park dirt course labeled fast.
Trained by Dale Romans, Birdatthewire used a similar closing bid to win the Forward Gal Jan. 24 at Gulfstream, then was a neck behind in third to Ekati's Phaeton and Eskenformoney in the Feb. 21 Davona Dale.
Birdatthewire returned $5.40, $3, and $2.40. About a length back in second, Eskenformoney delivered $3.60 and $2.80. Longshot Danessa Deluxe got up to finish third and paid $4.40 to show.
Bred by Lynn and Kathy Jones out of the Wagon Limit mare My Limit, Birdatthewire improved her record to 3-2-1 from seven career starts.