Beach Bomb Looks to Bloom Again in $165,000 Orchid (G3)

Among 10 Stakes, Five Graded, Worth $2.62 Million Saturday

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Cayton Park Stud Ltd.’s South African-bred Beach Bomb, who broke through with her first North American success in Gulfstream Park’s The Very One (G3) four weeks ago, goes after a second straight win in Saturday’s $165,000 Orchid (G3).

The 61st running of the Orchid for older fillies and mares scheduled for 1 ½ miles on the turf is the second of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps.

First race post time is 11:30 a.m. (ET). Post time for the Orchid, Race 4, is 12:57 p.m. (ET).

Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Beach Bomb came into the March 1 The Very One not having raced since finishing eighth at odds of 55-1, beaten 3 ½ lengths by subsequent female grass champion Moira – Canada’s 2022 Horse of the Year – in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

The Breeders’ Cup was the third race for Beach Bomb since arriving in the U.S., having run second in the 1 1/16-mile Violet at Monmouth Park and third in the 1 ¼-mile Rodeo Drive (G2) at Del Mar. She won four of eight starts in her native country including the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas (G1) and Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1), the latter over elders.

“She’s a Grade 1 winner in South Africa, so we had good hopes for her,” trainer Graham Motion said. “It’s tough for these South African horses. It’s a lot for them to come over here. It takes them a while, but I think it showed. She’s had a year over here now and I think that’s probably helped her.”

Unlike in her three races last year, Beach Bomb found herself as the pacesetter in the 1 3/8-mile The Very One, leading through comfortable fractions and delivering a one-length triumph under Luis Saez, who returns to ride from Post 6 of seven. The are rated as the 9-5 second choice on the morning line.

“I didn’t necessarily expect her to be on the lead, but I think that style is suited down here,” Motion said. “She’s a nice filly. It’s not really a surprise to see her run that well. She’s been running in tough spots and we kind of regrouped and gave her a little time, and she ran great.

“She’s pretty kind. I think you could do anything you want with her, to be honest. I’d imagine if there’s not too much pace she’ll be close again. Going a mile and a half is a bit of a question mark, but I think down here it won’t be an issue. She’s doing well. This spot just seemed very logical after her last race.”

Sharing topweight of 123 pounds with Beach Bomb is LSU Stables’ La Mehana, the narrow 8-5 program favorite that ran third in the The Very One. Winner of the Waya (G3) last fall at Aqueduct, she will be making her fourth start of the Championship Meet after previously winning the 1 3/8-mile Via Borghese in December and finishing third by a neck in the 1 ½-mile La Prevoyante (G3) Jan. 25. Irad Ortiz Jr. is named to ride from Post 2.

Stuart Janney III’s Silvology will be making her stakes debut in the Orchid for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaugey. The homebred daughter of Blame earned a shot at graded company after winning her two prior starts this winter on the Gulfstream turf.

“She brought us here. If she had been third or something last time she wouldn’t have run in here, but I thought she deserves a chance going a mile and a half on this course,” McGaughey said. “She’s run real good over this course. I’ve been real pleased with the way she’s done.”

Unraced at 2 and winless in five starts at 3, three at Aqueduct, Silvology graduated by a half-length in a 1 3/8-mile maiden special weight Jan. 9. Favored in her first attempt against winners, she registered a one-length triumph Feb. 13 at the Orchid distance.

“I think at Aqueduct some of those races were a little bit too short for her and kind of quick turns. We feel like now that we got her stretched out she’ll be OK,” McGaughey said. “I think she’s probably a pretty classy filly and hopefully we’ll find out on Saturday what she is.”

Rated at 6-1 on the morning line, Silvology drew the rail and will be ridden by Dylan Davis, up for each of her two wins this winter.

Rounding out the field are Queen Regent (7-2, Post 3), fifth in the La Prevoyante and fourth in the The Very One, beaten less than two lengths each time; Sacaya (10-1, Post 4), Group 3-placed in Italy entered to make her North American debut; maiden My Brazilian Girl (30-1, Post 5); and Infinite Diamond (20-1, Post 7), winner of Gulfstream’s 2023 Cash Run on dirt that captured a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer over the turf course Dec. 20.