Albaugh Family Stables’ homebred mare Ontime Girl kicked off her season and graded stakes career with an impressive three-length victory in the $175,000 Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, establishing herself as a promising 3-year-old filly. The 46th running of the Forward Gal showcased this sophomore filly sprinting seven furlongs on the main track as part of a 12-race card highlighted by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), which featured five stakes races totaling $975,000 in prize money.
Named after the 1970 champion Florida 2-year-old filly who won 12 races including major Grade 1 events like the Alabama, Mother Goose, Spinaway, and Gazelle, the Forward Gal provides key qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Ontime Girl ($4.20), ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., secured his fourth win of the day and second following the $175,000 Swale Stakes, holding off eight other favorites in a competitive field.
Mythical, a homebred of Arindell with four wins in six races and a notable Adirondack (G3) victory, maintained a strong early pace, covering the opening quarter-mile in 22.96 seconds. Ortiz positioned Ontime Girl strategically behind the leaders, while 9-1 longshot Imperatoris, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, closed in from the outside.
Though Mythical led through the half-mile mark in 46.05 seconds, Ontime Girl dropped back to fourth as Imperatoris moved into second. Tessellate also made a move on the outside, briefly causing concern for trainer Brad Cox. “She had to check a little bit going into the far turn,” Cox said, but noted the filly quickly found room and finished strongly.
Ortiz bided his time patiently, guiding Ontime Girl between Tessellate and Hollen Drive, then aiming at Imperatris. She took the lead inside the eighth pole, eventually pulling clear to win over the slow-starting Sneaky Good in a final time of 1:24.59. “I felt Mythical had the speed, so I stayed close beside her and took it slow as the outside horses showed speed,” Ortiz explained. “The filly kept responding like a champ, maintaining her effort and holding ground until she was clear to finish strong.”
Imperatris finished second by a neck ahead of Sneaky Good, followed by Hollen Drive, Mythical, Tessellate, Second, and Music Burst. Ontime Girl’s next outing is expected in the $225,000 Davona Dale (G2) one-turn mile on February 28, gearing up for the $275,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) a month later.
Ontime Girl is by Not This Time out of Girl Daddy, an Uncle Mo mare who claimed the 2020 Pocahontas (G3) and was runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Not This Time landed the 2016 Iroquois (G3) and narrowly missed victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The Forward Gal marks Ontime Girl’s longest race so far, building on three wins in four starts that include a six-and-a-half furlong win at Churchill Downs’ Fern Creek Stakes.
Trainer Brad Cox believes Ontime Girl has potential to handle longer distances, making the mile-long Davona Dale a logical next step. “Given her pedigree, she might do well stretching out to a mile,” Cox said, adding that late February’s Davona Dale could be a good test for her.
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on February 1, 2026.
Fan Take: Ontime Girl’s commanding performance in the Forward Gal signals the rise of a star in the 3-year-old filly division, offering racing fans exciting prospects for the upcoming classics. Her blend of speed, stamina, and racing savvy adds valuable depth to the sport, highlighting the ongoing potential for thrilling competition at the highest levels.
