Wolfson Scores Trifecta In Musical Romance

Trainer Marty Wolfson enjoyed a black-type day Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where he saddled the first three finishers, including victorious Ol Donyo, in the $75,000 Musical Romance Stakes.

 

“It’s happened before. It was 1-2-3-4 once before,” said Wolfson, whose chance of saddling the first four finishers Saturday was dashed when he scratched morning-line favorite Best Behavior. “We’ve done it a lot. It’s nice with fillies because they all get black type.”

 

Despite drifting out through the stretch run of the seven-furlong stakes for fillies and mares, Ol Donyo, the 3-1 favorite, finished 3 ½ lengths clear of Flores Island, who was another 2 ¼ lengths clear of Kipling’s Joy over the sloppy track.

 

“I just didn’t know how they’d handle the slop,” Wolfson said. “They’ve trained well on it.”

 

And they ran well on it Saturday. Longshot Horsin’ Around sprinted to the lead along the backstretch, stalked by Flores Island, who raced outside of Salamera into the far turn. Leaving the turn into the homestretch, Ol Donyo slipped inside Salamera and the tiring pacesetter to open up a lead into the stretch under jockey Jilver Chamafi. Flores Island responded to urging by jockey Edgard Zayas to take up the chase, but the drifting leader was never seriously challenged.

 

“She has a habit of drifting out, but no big deal,” Wolfson said of the winner. “The other filly that finished second, I love that filly going long. She needs to go a little further.”

 

Kipling’s Joy, who finished sixth in the Grade 1 Ballerina (G1) in her previous start, closed from off the pace to finish third under Ramsey Zimmerman.

 

Ol Donyo, who captured a six-furlong optional claiming race in her first start for Wolfson at Gulfstream on Aug. 7, ran seven furlongs in 123:73 while earning $45,000 for Newtown Anner Stud.

 

Wolfson has experienced much success with fillies and mares over the years.

 

“You just have place them right and treat them like women,” he said. “You show them attention and make them feel important.”

 

Source: Gulfstream Park Communications