Gin Gin Reverses Form for Walsh, Strolls Home in the Doubledogdare

[Wandering Eyes]

Good first impressions are a must in most professional situations, and Gin Gin (Hightail) stepped up in a big way for new trainer Brendan Walsh when she dominated the GIII Baird Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland Friday evening.

Previously in the barn of Brad Cox, she had a stakes win in New York to her credit in 2024 by way of the Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct in mid-January, but went winless for the rest of the season including a start in the GI Kentucky Oaks. Running 12th in the premier spring Classic for American 3-year-old fillies, she was gone from that effort until Jan. 17 this year, where she ran a flat fifth against optional claimers at Fair Grounds on first-time Lasix.

Going without the medication here and a chilly 38-1 for her first jump in the Walsh program, she pressed MGISW Just F Y I (Justify) as that one put up :23.19 and :47.70 early splits. Inheriting the lead entering the far turn when the leader faltered and steadied at the five sixteenths pole, Gin Gin still had the advantage as a hopeful came up to apply outside pressure. Shaking clear of that one and drawing away, she was 5 1/4 lengths ahead of deep closer MGSW & MGISP Tarifa (Bernardini) as GISW Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) held on for third.

After she faltered on the far bend, the chart notes say that Just F Y I was pulled up in the lane and transported off the track in an equine ambulance. The official Keeneland Racing account on X tweeted that she was examined by attending veterinarians and was walking the shed row and cooling out after the race.

 

Just F Y I was given a courtesy ride back to the barn after the Baird Doubledogdare. She was examined by the attending veterinarian and is currently walking the shed row and cooling out. She'll continue to be monitored for any changes.

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 18, 2025

“I wasn't sure what to expect, to be honest with you,” said Walsh. “Eddie Kane and Mr. [Brad] Kelley [respective farm manager and owner of Calumet Farm, the winning owner] asked me to take her and give her a shot to see if she still had an appetite for [racing] anymore.”

“To be fair to her, she's done nothing wrong since she came to us. She kind of lost her form at the end of last year, and I think she got a freshening. They did a fantastic job at the farm, actually. But she's got some good back class, and it's nice she showed it today. [Jockey] Jose [Ortiz] did a great job too.”

Regarding plans for the rest of the year, Walsh said, “I think they wanted to see if it was worth keeping her in training or not, but off [her performance today], you'd have to say it is. She's a graded stakes winner now, too, and that's fantastic. Hopefully, she can build on it. [A graded stakes win at Keeneland] is always nice.”

 

Watch the full replay as GIN GIN pulls off an upset in the Baird Doubledogdare (G3)! pic.twitter.com/MdqbxyYokF

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 18, 2025

 

Pedigree Note:

Gin Gin is the most accomplished racehorse for her dam but only her third to survive in a string of poor breeding luck between her first winner Know It Now (American Pharoah) and the Doubledogdare victress. The 2022 half-brother Quick City (City of Light) died as an unraced juvenile last year and she was barren in 2023 after a visit to Lexitonian. She did produce a now yearling full-sister to Gin Gin and is due to Cody's Wish for 2025.

Dam Before You Know It (Hard Spun) is a half-sister to MGSP Tarantino (Pioneerof the Nile), and GSP Instant Reflex (Quality Road), who would garner her claim to fame via her daughter, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress Hard to Justify (Justify). This is the immediate female family of globetrotting Group winner and multiple group-placed Slow Pace (Distorted Humor) as well as unraced Jolie Chanson (Fr) (Mount Nelson {GB}). The latter mare would create a family branch which yielded the likes of multiple group-placed Majestic Dawn (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}); GSW & GISP King Guillermo (Uncle Mo); and G1 Darley July Cup hero turned popular European sire Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) and his half-sister MGSP-Eng Sunday Star (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).

Friday, Keeneland
BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE S.-GIII, $350,000, Keeneland, 4-18, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:45.15, ft.
1–GIN GIN, 118, f, 4, by Hightail
      1st Dam: Before You Know It (GSP, $313,083), by Hard Spun
      2nd Dam: Without Delay, by Seeking the Gold
      3rd Dam: Slow Down, by Seattle Slew
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Brendan Walsh; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $214,288. Lifetime Record: 10-3-2-2, $461,596. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Tarifa, 120, f, 4, Bernardini–Kite Beach, by Awesome Again. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $69,125.
3–Candied, 118, f, 4, Candy Ride (Arg)–Toni Tools, by Roaring Fever. ($165,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & B Flay Thoroughbreds; B-Buck Pond Farm, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $34,563.
Margins: 5 1/4, HF, 3/4. Odds: 38.88, 3.48, 2.36.
Also Ran: Occult, Neon Icon, Dreaming of Mo, Just F Y I.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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