HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Repole Stable homebred Always Shopping and Sailing Solo won Monday’s twin 1 1/16-mile turf route $75,000 stakes: the Monroe (for fillies and mares) and the Mr. Steele.
In the Monroe, Always Shopping was able to get up past a drifting Bienville Street in the late stages to win by a neck in a final time of 1:43.36. The Todd Pletcher trainee was the 7/2 third choice under Edgard Zayas.
Kelsey’s Cross, Crown and Sugar, Makeme Dream, the 9/5 favorite Great Sister Diane, and Sensible Myth completed the order of finish. Heiressindy, Midnight Soiree, and Sky Chaser (Main Track Only) were scratched.
Always Shopping’s win was her first since she took the Busanda Stakes and the Gazelle Stakes (G2) in the spring of 2019. The 4-year-old Awesome Again filly improved her record to 11-3-2-1 with $318,510 earned.
Always Shopping returned $9.40 to win, $5.20 to place, and $3 to show. Bienville Street brought back $10 to place and $5 to show, while Kelsey’s Cross paid $2.80 to show.
In the Mr. Steele, Sailing Solo led under siege throughout much of the race until crossing 1 1/2 lengths clear under a hand ride in a final time of 1:42.44. Edgar Prado was in the saddle for owner/trainer Louie Russell III, who purchased the 5-year-old son of Smart Strike for $30,000 at the end of 2018.
Louder Than Bombs, Galleon Mast, Stirling Drive, Cowboy’s Hero, Identifier, Cheyenne’s Colonel, and Scraps completed the order of finish. Morning Stride, Sir Seamus, and Thunder Ride completed the order of finish. Eye of a Jedi and Kukulkan were Main Track Only entries.
Sailing Solo’s win was his third straight, all over the local strip, and improved his overall record to 15-7-2-3 with $218,980 earned.
Sailing Solo returned $3 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.10 to show. Louder Than Bombs brought back $4 to place and $2.60 to show, while Galleon Mast paid $2.10 to show.
