A few minutes before the third race at Gulfstream Park yesterday, the odds on Facts Only began dropping steadily – from 6-1 to 5-1 to 3-1. After they sprung the latch, the Bahamian Squall 3-year-old’s next tote board change had her at 8/5.

The late money proved to be right on the money, as the filly bred by NTS Stable broke her maiden looking nothing like a horse who hadn’t visited the winner’s circle in her first 13 tries. However, in her previous race on April 29, Facts Only had finished second under Gaddiel Martinez at odds of 13-1, 1 3/4 lengths behind the 4/5 winner, but 18 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher. She posted a career-best Equibase ‘E’ figure of 72.

This time, Martinez broke fifth with his filly and she remained there down the backstretch. He sent her after the leaders coming to the turn, went wide approaching the top of the stretch, and swept into the lead in mid-stretch, winning by 4 1/4 widening lengths. She was clocked in 1:38.93 for the mile, while becoming Bahamian Squall’s 11th winner of 2021. And – she paid $5.80, $2.80 and $2.20.