The Singapore Sling: Parranda Rolls in Marshua’s River

Parranda has never been better. Evidence of that was on full display in today’s Marshua’s River Stakes at Gulfstream Park, and that’s good, because the easy win in the Grade 3 turf test was impressive, but she will have to indeed be better than ever to give it a good run in her next start. Purchased by The China Horse Club for $800,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Parranda was immediately pointed to take on the males halfway across the globe on February 22 in the China Equine Cultural Festival Singapore Cup. That rich race in Singapore would have to wait, though, because the six-year-old daughter of English Channel was doing too well for her new trainer, Christophe Clement, to keep on the sidelines.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of ten, Parranda was making her first start since the sale, which followed a 6th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup. Ridden by Hall of Famer, John Velazquez, Parranda was content to sit in a comfortable stalking position behind the early pace of 20-1 longshot, Skylander Girl. There she stayed until the final furlongs, when set down for the stretch run. Now in full flight, Parranda powered by the brave early leader in mid-stretch, and rolled home a much the best, three-length victress.

In a battle for second between Ontario-breds, Skylander Girl just held on for the place, holding off Why Katherine by a nose. Parranda’s final time for the mile and a sixteenth over the firm Florida turf was a respectable 1:42.53. By way of comparison, Mshawish ran the same distance in 1:41.14, while winning the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes, for older males, two races later in the card.

Parranda’s happy new trainer did not hide his feelings about the possibility of having Parranda back in the States after her date in the Singapore Cup.

"The filly was bought to run in a race in Singapore in early February, remarked Clement. “Obviously she does very well at Gulfstream, but she can always go to Singapore and come back. Why not? It’s [Today’s race] the best preparation she could have had. She did not have too tough a race. I just hope that she comes out of it in good shape.”

Today’s race at Gulfstream served as a brief homecoming for the mare closing in on a million dollars in earnings. Last year, Parranda, once a $13,000 juvenile purchase, won both the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf and the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes over this course for trainer Rodolfo Garcia. After those successes, Parranda was purchased by a Jerry Hollendorfer led group, and was shipped to California under the Hall of Fame trainer’s care.

Parranda accounted herself well out West, winning twice, and finishing in the money in her first six starts out there, all graded stakes, before fading a bit in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She finished in the middle of the pack that day, but still only lost by just over four lengths. She was sold again soon after.

With today’s impressive victory, Parranda raised her lifetime record on turf to 27-11-4-3. Now it’s on to Singapore for her third owners in the past year, and a run in a $3 million race.