Gulfstream Park: Sandal’s Song, Lennilu win way to Royal Ascot
Sandal’s Song rallied past 4-5 favorite Squire in early stretch and continued on to register an upset victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park, giving trainer George Weaver a return trip to Royal Ascot.
The five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds co-headlined Saturday’s program with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, a five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-old fillies won by Lennilu, the 4-5 favorite coming off a debut victory at Keeneland. Saturday’s co-features each offered its winner a fees-paid berth in one of six stakes for 2-year-olds during the Royal Ascot meeting June 17-21 and a $25,000 equine travel stipend.
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Weaver swept the 2023 Royal Palm races with No Nay Mets in the Juvenile and with Crimson Advocate in the Juvenile Fillies. Crimson Advocate went on to capture the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
“We’re excited. Hopefully, if he comes out of it well, we’ll try to get to Ascot,” Weaver said. “We’ve got the lay of the land. We understand it. It takes a good horse, and I think we got one.”
Sandal’s Song, a son of Mendelssohn owned by Dew Sweepers who was sent to post at 7-1, was making his debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile, in which he broke last in a field of eight from his no. 1 post position. He quickly recovered under jockey Luca Panici while advancing along the inside to sit behind dueling pacesetters Beers on Me and Squire heading into the turn.
Taking advantage of a quick first quarter-mile in 21.90 seconds, Panici eased Sandal’s Song off the rail to make a three-wide sweep on the turn into the homestretch. Squire, the Patrick Biancone-trained stablemate of Lennilu, took a lead into the stretch but was unable to withstand surging Sandal’s Song, who drew away to win by 1 1/2 lengths.
“I expected something special because I worked the horse. I was confident,” Panici said. “The trip was perfect. I think he has a very, very nice future.”
Sandal’s Song ran five furlongs on a firm turf course in 56.30 seconds. Squire, who was ridden by Luis Saez, finish second, 5 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Arkadelphia.
“I had (Royal Testament) in the other race, and the 1 hole was a disadvantage for both of them, although it affected her more than the colt,” Weaver said of Royal Testament, who finished sixth. “He was able to get up in a nice position before they hit the turn. I don’t really hone on my first time starters. He’d done enough. I knew he was fast. Good horses go out there and do what they’re supposed to do. I never worked him on the grass, but he had some turf in his pedigree. Luca worked him out of the gate on the dirt up (at Palm Beach Downs). He only went in 50 and change, and he said he was a nice horse. He worked No Nay Mets in 51 here and said the same thing. If he comes out of this race well, I’d like to take him (to Ascot). I see no reason not to. I feel comfortable he’s the caliber who should go if he’s doing well.”
Lennilu scores in Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies
Lennilu punched her ticket to Royal Ascot in impressive fashion, overcoming some early trouble to romp by 3 3/4 lengths in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies.
“The plan is Royal Ascot, as long as she is healthy and everything goes right,” Biancone said. “But I don’t see why it would be a problem.”
With two-time championship-meet riding leader Luis Sáez flying in for the race, Lennilu ($3.60) completed the distance in 56.99 seconds over a firm turf course. It was her second race following a one-length debut triumph going 4 1/2 furlongs over a sloppy and sealed main track April 6 at Keeneland.
“Luis loved her from the day he rode her at Keeneland. He said he wanted to ride her at Ascot and I said, easy, we have to do one stop at Gulfstream first,” Biancone said. “She’s a machine. She’s very relaxed. She traveled to Keeneland. It was bad weather. She shed-rowed two days, jogged one day and ran like a monster. The father (Leinster) was a very good sprinter on turf, so I had a lot of confidence in her coming into this race. The plan all along was to get to Ascot. That’s why so many partners joined in for that trip.”
Saturday’s race saw Wesley Ward-trained Satisfied Mind, a 3 1/4-length winner of her April 16 unveiling at Keeneland, break running and establish the early lead after an opening quarter-mile in 22.03 seconds. Lennilu, who bumped with Satisfied Mind at the break, pressed in second joined by 50-1 long shot Le Sunshine to her immediate outside in third.
The half-mile went in 45.25 seconds as Lennilu came off the far turn racing two wide to take over the top spot. She powered through the lane to separate from her rivals while under a hold from Sáez.
Bibi Dahl, a $1.35 million yearling making her first start, got up for second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Strada Del Sogno in third. Authentic Guitar, Bohemian, Royal Testament, Kitty Cleo, Le Sunshine, Divinely Inspired, Satisfied Mind and Just a Little Bit completed finish in that order. Nonna’s Love, Emerald Ember and Rumpus in Paradise were scratched.
The connections are hoping to follow in the footsteps of inaugural Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies winner Crimson Advocate, who used the race as a steppingstone to victory in the 2023 Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot for trainer George Weaver and jockey John Velázquez.
Lennilu is owned by Amy Dunne, Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing, Tranquility Lake Farm, Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington.