Richard Ciavardone and Home Team Stable's Sweet Willemina ($18.60) emerged from a pack of horses in mid-stretch and rallied past Our Fantasy to capture Saturday's $80,000 Glass Slipper at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.
The Scott Lake-trained 4-year-old daughter of Reason d'Etat, who was coming off her first loss in seven starts since being claimed by her connections for $32,000, rebounded with a last-jump decision over Our Fantasy in the mile starter stakes for fillies and mares that have run for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2020-2021.
Sweet Willemina, a Parx-based filly who broke her maiden for a $10,000 claiming price in September 2020, ran the mile in 1:36.68 under Silvestre Gonzalez to return to winning form after finishing second in an optional claiming allowance at Parx last time out.
“She's a beast,” Lake said. “Her last race when she got beat – Silvestre and I talked about it and thought he rode her over-confidently and didn't go after the lone speed,” Lake said. “We were a little worried coming in because she wasn't quite as sharp coming off that race. But she's been training great down here. Silvestre did a great job.”
Our Fantasy made a sweeping move to the lead coming off the stretch turn to open a clear early lead under Edgard Zayas but was unable to hold off Sweet Willemina by a head. Lets Be Honest finished third a length back.
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