Winplaceandshow Determined Winner of $100,000 Azalea

Third Consecutive Victory, First in Stakes, for 3YO Filly
Colombina Gives Sano Second Debut Winner in Two Weeks

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran’s Winplaceandshow, making her stakes debut off back-to-back victories, extended her win streak to three races with a hard-fought head victory over Permian Basin in Saturday’s $100,000 Azalea at Gulfstream Park.

The Azalea for 3-year-old fillies sprinting seven furlongs was the headliner on an 11-race Father’s Day eve program. A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 is scheduled for Sunday, when the popular multi-race wager’s jackpot pool is estimated to reach $500,000.

Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez for trainer Joe Orseno, Winplaceandshow ($5.40) covered a fast main track in 1:24.41 in holding off Permian Basin over the final eighth of a mile.

“She swapped her leads back and forth a little bit, I think she maybe wasn’t getting hold of the track. Other than that, when she leveled off she dug in to not let [Permian Basin] go by. It was gutsy race. She showed a lot of determination.”

Gonzalez and Winplaceandshow were content to settle three wide in third after breaking from the rail as two-time stakes-placed Flowko took the early initiative and sped through an opening quarter-mile in 22.49 seconds pressed to her outside by last-out maiden winner Sorokin while Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemate Late Night Text, the 3-2 favorite, raced further out in fourth.

Winplaceandshow made steady progress on the far outside and inherited the lead rounding the far turn, going a half-mile in 45.21 with Sorokin holding second as Flowko began to drop back. Winplaceandshow led the way into the stretch while Permian Basin began to roll into a challenging position, but the two-time winner was unable to get by after separating from the rest of the field.

“Watching the horses go down the backside, I knew [Flowko] was going to show speed. I actually thought [Late Night Text] was going to go with her but when she didn’t, [Sorokin] went,” Orseno said. “I really had my eye on [Late Night Text] the whole race.

“Then we moved before her and I thought, ‘OK, maybe we’ll get away from her,’” he added. “[Late Night Text] probably didn’t run her race today. When [Permian Basin] started coming, I thought, ‘I hope she didn’t do too much.’ It all worked out, but she had to fight hard.”

Permian Basin was a clear second, six lengths in front of 17-1 longshot Wander Woman, followed by Sorokin, Flowko and Late Night Text. Win Bet Only was scratched.

Bred in Florida by Brereton C. Jones, Winplaceandshow was purchased for $90,000 as a yearling and improved her career mark to 6-4-0-1. The daughter of Win Win Win earned a $25,000 bonus from the Florida-Bred Incentive Fund and pushed her bankroll over $160,000.

“She’s a filly that we always thought had talent. She’s got six starts, four wins, so the proof is right there in her record,” Orseno said. “We’ll have to see where we’re going to run her next but he’s a lovely Florida-bred to have, I’ll tell you that much.”

Colombina Gives Sano Second Debut Winner in Two Weeks

A trio of maiden special weight races for Florida-bred 2-year-olds were part of Saturday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park, and trainer Antonio Sano turned loose his second debut winner in two weeks in Cloud Nine Lumoni’s Colombina.

A daughter of Mr Louise, out of the Tapit mare Beautiful Miss, Colombina shot to the front leaving the one post under jockey Samy Camacho and never looked back, covering five furlongs in 1:00.46. Favored Whole Lotta Rosie was four lengths behind the winner.

Mr Louise is a son of Uncle Mo who was originally purchased and trained by Sano and owned by Cloud Nine Lumoni.

On June 6, Sano saddled debut winner Rasasi, a Kentucky-bred son of Honor Code owned by RRR Racing. Rasasi won by 7 ¼ lengths while covering 4 ½ furlongs in :52.03. Sano said while Colombina would remain at Gulfstream, Rasasi might be heading to Saratoga for the Sanford (G3) July 4.

Spicy Taco, a son of Uncle Chuck owned by Smith Ranch Stables, rallied late to catch favored Strike to win Race 6, a 4 ½ furlong event for 2-year-olds. Making his debut for trainer Luis Ramirez, Spicy Taco covered the distance in :53.56. Spicy Taco is out of the unraced Midshipman mare Overbeliever. Spicy Taco was originally a $14,000 purchase as a yearling.

In the third maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds on the day, Breeze Easy LLC’s homebred Ez Orb Not pulled away down the stretch to win a six furlong event on the main track in 1:11.80. Favored Classy Prince was second.

Ez Orb Not, a son of Curlin’s Honor, was making his fourth start for trainer Joe Orseno. The gelding, out of the Orb mare Ready Orb Not, entered the race off a second-place finish against open company.