BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Starship Melody bids for her second straight victory Sunday at Gulfstream Park when she heads a field of seven 3-year-old fillies bred in Florida in a $54,000 first condition allowance race set to go a mile-and-70 yards over the all-weather course.
The daughter of Vekoma is the 9-5 morning line favorite based on her six-and-a-half-length victory last time out at Gulfstream on March 6. Starship Melody and jockey Luis Saez came from mid-pack to win a maiden special weight for Florida-breds going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on synthetic. That was her first try on the all-weather course after two tries on turf, the best being a third-place finish going a mile on Feb. 6.
Starship Melody has earned $37,500 in her three races for owner Laurence Levy, who purchased her in the name of his Starship Stables for $50,000 out of Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree consignment at last year’s Spring Sale at Ocala Breeders’ Sales.
(Starship Melody’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)
Out of Honey Trap, by Medaglia d’Oro, Starship Melody was bred in Florida by Bryan Hicks and Melodee Hicks.
Trainer Heather Smullen has again given the riding assignment to Saez and they will depart post five.
Trainer David Braddy will saddle She’s My Lady Luck for Champion Equine LLC and they are the second choice in the program at 3-1.
By Ocala Stud’s 2024 leading Florida freshman sire Win Win Win, She’s My Lady Luck was a first-out winner against state-bred maiden fillies going five furlongs on synthetic at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 19. In one start since, she was sixth when facing first condition, $75,000 optional claiming fillies going a mile on the turf on Feb. 9.
She’s My Lady Luck is out of Hello Juliet, by Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie and was purchased by Champion Equine for $310,000 out the consignment of breeder Ocala Stud at last year’s OBS Spring Sale.
(She’s My Lady Luck’s Under Tack Video / Walking Video)
Edgard Zayas will ride She’s My Lady Luck from post three.
Mojo Rising is another strong contender coming out of a debut victory for X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables and SF Racing LLC.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo, Mojo Rising won a six-furlong, $40,000 maiden claiming on the synthetic course at Gulfstream on Dec. 14.
By Mo Town out of Purecraziluck, by Simon Pure, Mojo Rising was bred in Florida by Bella Inizio Farm LLC and was a $37,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Mojo Rising has post one and Dylan Davis will ride for the first time. They are 6-1 in the program.
Rounding out the field are Popstyle and jockey Emisael Jaramilo, Junior Alvarado rides Grade A, Miss Mary Nell will be ridden by Joe Bravo and Leonel Reyes has the assignment on Money Bouquet.
Return to the March 22 issue of Wire to Wire
