Arindel's Key Biscayne rallied from well off the pace to capture Saturday's $75,000 Monroe Stakes at Gulfstream Park, providing jockey Chantal Sutherland with her fourth victory of the day.
“I'm so grateful. I'm grateful to God, and I'm grateful to Gulfstream for being so amazing,” said Sutherland, who was greeted by an enthusiastic round of cheers from fans in the grandstand and on the apron upon her return to the winner's circle. “It's been really nice here.”
Riding for the first time during the Spring/Summer Meet at Gulfstream, Sutherland continued to make her presence felt Saturday with victories aboard Hot Babe ($5.20) in Race 3, Hard Ten ($2.80) in Race 8, and Clapton ($20.20) in Race 9 prior to her victory aboard Key Biscayne ($14.40) in the Race 10 feature. The 45-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, who has ridden more than 1100 winners during her career, sits seventh in the Spring/Summer Meet standings with 30 wins.
“I'm so happy it's worked out the way it did. Thanks to [trainer] Kenny McPeek, who helped me get fit to do this during the winter,” said Sutherland, who had taken time off due to the Covid-19 pandemic before galloping and breezing horses for McPeek during Gulfstream's Championship Meet.
Key Biscayne, who raced in tough stakes company on turf last year while finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Lake Placid, third in the Saratoga Oaks, and fifth in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, was hardly disadvantaged when the Monroe, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, was transferred to the main track. The homebred 4-year-old daughter of Brethren was previously undefeated in two races transferred to dirt, having broken her maiden over a fast Gulfstream Park track and rolling to a dominating allowance victory at Belmont last year.
Key Biscayne settled of a solid early pace set by Thissmytime, the 3-5 favorite, who showed the way during fractions of :22.80 and 46.10 seconds for the first half-mile. Starship Nterprise made a strong move on the turn into the homestretch to pull alongside the tiring pacesetter and took a lead into the stretch. Meanwhile, Key Biscayne was making a three-wide sweep on the final turn to enter contention. Starship Nterprise, who captured the Martha Washington on turf last time out, kicked in nicely in the stretch but would prove unable to hold off the wide-and-driving Key Biscayne, who scored by a neck in her second start of the year.
“I had worked her and I worked another horse I've won on for Arindel. I loved how they worked,” said Sutherland. “I had so much confidence going into the race. I just love the way she handles everything.”
Key Biscayne ran the one-turn mile over a fast track in 1:36.90. Global Brand finished third, 2 ¼ lengths behind Starship Nterprise. Thissmytime finished fourth.
Key Biscayne and Clapton were two of three winners that were owned and bred by Arindel. They also won the fourth race with Gilligan.
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