Bargain claim Pink Mama wins sixth straight

Claimed for $6,250 in December, Pink Mama frolicked to a 3 ½ -length victory in Sunday’s second race at Gulfstream Park, remaining undefeated in six starts for owner Juan Cacho Castro and trainer Gerald Bennett.

Sent to post as the 1-9 favorite in a field of six fillies and mares assembled for the 5 ½-furlong optional claiming starter allowance, Pink Mama was patiently rated in third while stalking the early pace before launching a three-wide move on the turn into the homestretch and drawing clear under the mildest of encouragement from jockey Samy Camacho.

The 4-year-old daughter of Mass Media has won all of her races for her new connections by a combined 31 ¼ lengths without receiving as much as a moderate challenge since being claimed at Tampa Bay Downs Dec. 28.

“I liked her form, her consistency and she was only in for $6,250,” Bennett said. “I figured the worst you can do is go back to $6,250 and she wins there all the time. She’s a solid, fast horse.”

The Florida-bred, who had been first or second in 12 previous starts, won four straight at Tampa Bay Downs, once on turf, before capturing an optional claiming starter allowance by 6 ½ lengths at Gulfstream May 27.

“She doesn’t need her racetrack. She runs on dirt and turf. Hopefully, we can keep her going for the Claiming Crown,” said Bennett referring to the nine-race Claiming Crown event scheduled for the opening day of the Championship Meet in December.

Until then, Bennett intends to fully enjoy Pink Mama’s success.

“She has a good mind. We baby her. She has her candies, her carrots. She loves attention, and she gets all kinds of attention,” Bennett said. “She just has a little quirk saddling. We’ve got to saddle her on the horse path. She might even get over that now that she has such confidence in herself.”

Majestic Secret set a pressured pace and held on for a gutsy three-quarters of a length triumph in Sunday’s sixth race, a $50,000 maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds, to establish himself as a prime candidate for the upcoming Florida Sire Stakes series.

The Rory Miller-trained colt is a son of Kantharos, also the sire of Florida Sire Stakes-eligible Florida Fuego, who debuted with a brilliant five-length score over fillies on Saturday’s card.

Majestic Secret ($19) ran five furlongs in 58.75 under Emisael Jaramillo while prevailing over 6-5 favorite Nonsuch and Dunk.

The Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions is scheduled to get underway Aug. 5. The $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies and the $100,000 Dr. Fager kick off the tradition rich series, followed by the $200,000 Susan’s Girl (fillies) and the $200,000 Affirmed on Sept.2 and the $400,000 My Dear Girl (fillies) and the $400,000 In Reality Sept. 30.