Extra furlong no issue as Lady's Island easily wins Musical Romance
Averill Racing LLC and Matties Racing Stable LLC’s Lady’s Island was all alone at the finish of Saturday’s $100,000 Musical Romance at Gulfstream Park after running her eight rivals off their feet with a dazzling front-running performance.
The Musical Romance, a seven-furlong sprint for Florida-bred fillies and mares, was the last of three stakes contested on Saturday’s 11-race program, which also offered the $75,000 Roar, a 6 ½-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds won by Double Crown, and the $75,000 Powder Break, a mile off-the-turf race for fillies and mares won by Jakarta.
Lady’s Island, who captured the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl during the Championship Meet, rolled to her 10th victory in her last 12 starts, all in front-running style.
The 6-year-old daughter of Greatness, as usual, broke alertly from the gate to gain an uncontested lead on her way to posting fractions of 22.17 and 44.24 seconds during the first half-mile of the Musical Romance. She continued on to draw away in the stretch to score comfortably by 3 ¾ lengths under Emisael Jaramillo.
“She looked settled; she looked happy,” trainer Georgina Baxter said. “Around the bend she pulled away, which is her normal move.”
Lady’s Island ($8.80) ran seven furlongs in 1:22.86 to easily hold off even-money favorite Wildwood's Beauty, who stalked the pace under Irad Ortiz Jr. Bellera, who was ridden by Luis Saez, finished third another 1 ¼ lengths back.
Lady’s Island, who was claimed for $16,000 nearly two years ago, collected her 16th victory in 30 career starts and seventh win in 10 races at Gulfstream Park. Saturday’s win was the first in two starts at seven furlongs for the five- and six-furlong specialist.
“We were worried,” said Baxter, whose trainee finished second behind Stormy Embrace in last year’s Musical Romance. “Seven furlongs, we thought she might be vulnerable.
“We’re very happy. She’s improved and improved. It’s been a progression.”
Lady’s Island’s romp pushed the strapping mare’s earnings over $475,000.
“She’s bigger and stronger,” Baxter said. “She’s double the size of any field in this field.
“She’s a monster and physically a monster”