Kaplan has Extra Incentive in Musical Romance

Trainer Bill Kaplan would like nothing better than to stand in the Gulfstream Park winner’s circle after Saturday’s running of the $90,000 Musical Romance Stakes. To that end, the veteran South Florida trainer will double up for the race named in honor of the Eclipse Award champion he saddled for a victory in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Kaplan, who is scheduled to saddle Holiday Magic and Quinnkat for the 7-furlong stakes for fillies and mares, still marvels at the heights reached by Musical Romance.

“She was a once-in-a-lifetime horse – well, hopefully not, but she really was a joy to be around,” Kaplan said. “She had all the ingredients of greatness. She had courage; she had class; she had speed; she had endurance; she had everything. She won anywhere from 5 ½ furlongs to a mile-and-a-sixteenth. She could run on dirt, turf, mud, synthetic.”

Musical Romance earned $1.6 million in a 41-race career that included a victory in the 2012 Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream Park that followed her career highlight in the Breeders’ Cup that earned her an Eclipse Award. The Florida-bred daughter of Concorde’s Tune brought another $1.6 million from Katsumi Yoshida’s Northern Farm at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Musical Romance, whom Kaplan purchased for only $22,000 at a 2009 Ocala Breeders’ 2-year-olds-in-training sale, is living the life of a broodmare in Japan, but her former trainer is still having a lot of success with bargain purchases. Holiday Magic and Quinnkat have demonstrated that their trainer still has a keen eye at 2-year-olds-in-training sales. Holiday Magic, a $45,000 purchase, has already earned more than $190,000 and Quinncat, a $20,000 bargain has earned more than $170,000.

Holiday Magic is a multiple-stakes winner whose best performance came at the Saturday’s distance of seven furlongs while winning the Sophomore Fillies Stakes for Florida-bred fillies at Tampa Bay Downs.

“She has a world of talent, but her problem has been using herself early,” Kaplan said. “She’s gotten better in the morning, so hopefully she’ll carry that over to the afternoon.”

Juan Leyva, who was Musical Romance’s regular rider, has the mount aboard Holiday Magic.

Quinnkat isn’t quite as accomplished as Holiday Magic, but she has more than held her own while running against her stablemate.

“They’ve run against each other four times and they’re 2-2,” Kaplan said.

Although she didn’t break her maiden until her 11th start on May 26 at Gulfstream, she piled up some healthy purse money while finishing in the money in all three Florida Sire Stakes races last year.

Holiday Magic will be facing older horses for the first time in the Musical Romance, while Quinnkat scored back-to-back victories over older foes during the summer meet.

“They’re 3-year-olds running against older. This time of the year, it isn’t as bad as earlier in the year. There aren’t any 3-year-old races anymore,” said Kaplan, who named Luca Panici to rider Quinnkat. “They’re seasoned. They’ve run in more races than most of them in the race, but it’s a little disadvantage.

While Kaplan has two chances to win Saturday, rival trainer Marty Wolfson entered four for the Musical Romance, which attracted a field of 11 fillies and mares. Of the nine fillies and mares nominated by Wolfson for the race, Best Behavior, Flores Island, Kipling’s Joy and Ol Donyo were entered.

Best Behavior and Flores Island are set to make their first starts for Wolfson’s stable. Best Behavior, who was claimed for $62,500 out of a recent victory at Gulfstream, has been in the money in 15 of 17 lifetime races.

“She’s like Starship Truffles. She’s always right there,” said Wolfson, comparing his new acquisition to the former claimer he turned into a Grade 1 winner in 2013.

Flores Island is set to make her first start at Gulfstream and her first start since March.

“Her works have been very good,” Wolfson said.

Ol Donyo came off an eight-money layoff to win at first asking for Wolfson at Gulfstream on Aug. 7. Kipling’s Joy finished off the board in the Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga last time out.

Marcus Vitali-trained Triple Arch, who is also dropping down from graded stakes competition; Courtney Ryan, a winner of eight of 11 starts in optional claiming company; Salamera, stakes-placed in her last three races; and Dreamlicious, a former Kaplan trainee who is a two-time winner for trainer Peter Walder, also deserve consideration Saturday. Horsin’ Around rounds out the field.

Source: Gulfstream Park