Curlin's Approval prevails over seven older rivals in Added Elegance

Curlin’s Approval captured her first stakes victory Sunday at Gulfstream Park, prevailing over seven older, more battle-tested rivals by 1 ½ lengths in the $75,000 Added Elegance Stakes.

Alter Racing Stable’s 3-year-old homebred filly earned her third victory in four starts – her only loss coming in her second career start while finishing fifth the July 2 Azalea Stakes.

Following an alert break from the gate in the seven-furlong sprint, Curlin’s Approval pressed a quick pace set by Moment of Delight and jockey Edgard Zayas along the backstretch and around the far turn. After running the first half-mile in 44.64 seconds and six furlongs in a swift 1:08.63, the daughter of Curlin got the better of the tiring pacesetter to get to the wire first in 1:22.17 under Tyler Gaffalione.

“The 44 scared me, it really did, but she kept going. She wasn’t backing up,” said trainer Marty Wolfson, whose winner was sent to post as the 3-1 second betting choice. “At the quarter-pole it was just a matter of how much she’d win by.”

Moment of Delight held second, 2 ½ lengths ahead of Miss Hollywood, the even-money favorite who broke slowly from her No. 1 post position under jockey Emisael Jaramillo. The Wolfson-trained Kiss to Remember finished fourth under Chantal Sutherland, who ventured from Del Mar to ride the 7-2 third choice.

Curlin’s Approval captured her debut by four lengths June 5 before finishing fifth in the Azalea on the Summit of Speed program. The Kentucky-bred filly rebounded to capture an entry-level allowance by five lengths July 22.