Lady’s Island Dominates Sugar Swirl

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Matties Racing Stable and Averill Racing’s Lady’s Island shot out of the gate early and never looked back en route to dominating Saturday’s $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking like a bullet from post 4 under Emisael Jaramillo as the 3/1 second choice, Lady’s Island immediately set command heading down the backstretch. Showing tremendous early speed, Lady’s Island posted opening fractions of :22.15 and :44.69.

Turning for home 7 lengths on top, Lady’s Island stayed to task through the stretch. Eased as she crossed 6 3/4 lengths ahead, the Georgina Baxter trainee completed the 6-furlong sprint over the fast main track in a final time of 1:10.75.

“I looked at the program and I saw the speed couldn’t beat (Lady Island),” Jaramillo said. “The horse has natural speed. When the gate opened, I put my hands down and the horse took the lead easy. I didn’t worry about the speed.”

Meadow Dance made a mild rally to take second over Pretty Greeley, who necked out Bronx Beatuy for third. The 9/5 favorite A Bit of Both never found her best footing before finishing fifth ahead of Stormy Embrace, with a 1/2-length separating them.

Ms Meshak, Blazen Betsy, and Heavenhasmynikki completed the order of finish.

Lady’s Island’s win was her eighth in nine starts this year, having finished second in the local 7-furlong Musical Romance Stakes in May. The Florida-bred 5-year-old daughter of Greatness improved her career record to 26-13-3-3 with $384,795 earned.

“She loves it in front,” Baxter said. “She’s really fast. Everyone always says they have fast fillies, but they’re not going faster than this one. She’s just super quick. And she’s put on all this muscle now, and she can carry it.”

Lady’s Island returned $8.60 to win, $4.80 to place, and $4.20 to show. Meadow Dance brought back $6.80 to place and $4.80 to show, while Pretty Greeley paid $13.20 to show.