Munnys Gold, a Florida-bred 3-year-old filly by Ashford Stud sire Munnings, romped to a 17¼-length victory in the $110,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Stakes on Florida Cup Day Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs, setting a track record for seven furlongs in the process.
Entering unbeaten in two starts and sent off the 2-5 favorite, Munny Gold was trying seven furlongs for the first time and dueled with Pretty'n Awesome down the backstretch before moving to lead under Irad Ortiz Jr. and drawing off down the lane for the eye-popping win in 1:20.09, a new track standard for the distance. The previous track mark of 1:20.89 was set in the 2019 Pasco Stakes by Win Win Win.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Lawana and Robert Low, Munnys Gold has won her three career starts by a combined 38 lengths. The Nickstar Farms-bred filly was a $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select yearling sale purchase from consignor Four Star Sales.
“That was a pretty impressive performance,” Pletcher said of Munnys Gold via telephone. “She's handled each step up in class and each increase in distance without any problem. You don't see horses do what she's done very often. She broke her maiden going five furlongs by 15 lengths and she won by even more today, so this is very exciting.
“We'll see how she comes out of it and maybe take a look at the Eight Belles at Churchill Downs going seven furlongs on (Kentucky) Oaks Day (May 5). Hopefully, she'll keep stepping up.”
On breaking the track record at seveb furlongs, Pletcher said: “I didn't see too many other races there today, so I don't know if the track is really fast or not, but regardless, that's a crazy fast time on any surface.”
Munnys Gold, who returned $2.80, was produced by the Medaglia d'Oro mare Haraawa.
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