Money or Love pulls off stunning upset in Musical Romance

Money or Love, a 35-1 outsider owned and trained by Anthony Russo, pulled off a stunning upset in Saturday’s $100,000 Musical Romance at Gulfstream Park, courtesy of a well-judged, ground-saving ride by Ramsey Zimmerman.

In the midst of a comeback after missing the better part of the past two years, Zimmerman collected his second win of the day and his first stakes victory since 2015 while prevailing in the seven-furlong sprint for Florida-bred fillies and mares.

The Musical Romance was named for the 2011 Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter who was based in South Florida. The 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprinter’s trainer, Bill Kaplan, made the winner’s circle presentation to the connections of Money or Love.

Zimmerman sat back aboard Money or Love as My Dear Venezuela and R Kinsley Doll vied for pacesetting honors while stalked by Royal Jewely and 9-5 favorite Hola Charlotte. Entering the far turn, Money or Love advanced on the leaders along the inside and was sent between horses straightening into the homestretch. R Kinsley Doll put away tiring My Dear Venezuela at the top of the stretch and appeared on her way to victory under Edgard Zayas, but Money or Love had the fresher legs and grabbed the lead along the inside approaching the finish line on her way to a length victory.

“Going down the backside she put me in the catbird seat. They were all struggling on the outside battling for position and I was down in there just relaxing,” said Zimmerman following his 1729th career victory. “I went to shoot that hole a little soon, so I had to slow her down a few strides. Then the leader drift out and we were in good shape.”

R Kinsley Doll finished second, a length ahead of Eva London, the 2-1 second choice ridden by Carlos Hernandez. Hola Charlotte finished fourth under Jorge Ruiz.

Money or Love ran seven furlongs in 1:22.97,  a final clocking built on fractions of 22.88 seconds, 45.04 and 1:09.69.

Calumet Farm’s Susie Bee closed down the stretch along the inside to win the $75,000 Christmas Past over Miller Racing’s Inside Out.

 

A 5-year-old mare by English Channel, Susie Bee covered a firm 1 1/16 mile turf course in 1:41.87 for her fifth victory for trainer Mike Maker. It was the fourth win on the program for jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

 

Susie Bee was rated by Gaffalione off the pace while Catsadiva opened up a 10-length lead down the backstretch while setting fractions of :23.54, :47.93 and 1:11.82. Around the final turn, the field closed in on a tiring Catsadiva and Gaffalione drove Susie Bee to the front along the inside.

           

Susie Bee returned $7.