HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Trainer Brendan Walsh hit the exacta on Saturday when La Signare held off her favored stablemate Zofelle in the $100,000 Sand Springs Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Breaking from post 6 under Tyler Gaffalione at 5/1 odds, La Signare was unhurried and settled toward the rear, several lengths back. Valedictorian sprinted to the lead out of the 12 post and held a lengthy advantage while posting fractions of :23.60, :46.63, and 1:09.37.
Still multiple lengths ahead as she rounded the far turn, Valedictorian looked like a gate-to-wire winner at the top of the stretch, but La Signare was steadily gobbling up ground. behind her. Taking the lead away in mid-stretch, La Signare had enough left in the tank to hold sway over Zofelle, the 3/2 bettors’ choice.
La Signare finished 3/4 of a length ahead of her stablemate while completing the mile-long turf event in a final time of 1:33.12.
After struggling to find room through the far turn, Zofelle gained ground quickly in the stretch but ran out of time to catch the winner. She was 3 lengths ahead of a weakened Valedictorian, who was 3/4 of a length ahead of Picara for third.
Smart Shot took fifth, a pair of necks ahead of Getmotherarose and Angel of Mischief, respectively. High Regard, Another Time, and East Moon completed the order of finish.
Souper Escape, the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) champion Newspaperofrecord, and Jakarta were scratched.
La Signare’s win was her first since joining Walsh’s stable midway through 2019 and her second against stakes foes, having wired the 2018 Wonder Again Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. The French-bred 5-year-old daughter of Slyouni improved her record to 11-3-1-2 with $227,543 earned for co-owners Madaket Stables, Tim and Anna Cambron, and Bradley Thoroughbreds.
La Signare returned $13.40 to win, $5 to place, and $3.40 to show. Zofelle brought back $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show, while Valedictorian paid $3.40 to show. The $1 stable exacta paid $19.50.
