There was a touch of inevitability about it, yet still a flicker of surprise. Gulfstream Park regulars leaned in as Willow Case, the filly who had already made a habit of defying the odds, once again delivered with poise and determination. On Friday afternoon, she stretched her winning streak to three with a polished success in the $75,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes — a performance that signaled she may be a rising star in Florida’s juvenile ranks.
The 2-year-old filly, owned by Amanda Hernandez and trained by Ramon Minguet, showed the kind of composure most youngsters lack. Under Leonel Reyes, she stalked the early pace with patience before swinging wide and grinding down favored Vita Mia, drawing away by three-quarters of a length at the line. Her winning time for the one-turn mile on a quick Gulfstream strip was 1:38.01.
“She is very professional, very focused,” Minguet said afterward, pride clear in his voice. “I thought the mile would be perfect for her. Honestly, I think the longer the distance, the better for her.”
Race Story Unfolds
At the break, 45-1 outsider Triple Threat hustled to the lead, pulling Tessellate and Vita Mia into a pressing chase through an opening quarter in 24.02 seconds. Reyes, biding his time, had Willow Case tucked in behind them, biding his moment. By the half-mile in 47.19, Triple Threat began to fade, leaving Tessellate and Vita Mia to battle for control.
Reyes made his move with calm precision. Swinging his filly to the outside, he tracked Vita Mia’s surge past Tessellate, then urged Willow Case into a relentless drive. The daughter of Neolithic lengthened with every stride, collared the favorite past the sixteenth pole, and surged clear under a hands-and-heels ride.
“She ran beautifully,” Reyes said. “The plan was to sit behind the speed, and she did exactly what we hoped. When I asked, she finished the race the right way.”
Behind the winner, Vita Mia stayed on gamely for second, Tessellate held third, with Dakota’s Lil Auror next. That Police never recovered from a stumbling start, and Triple Threat faded to last.
Filly in Form
The victory marked Willow Case’s second straight stakes win, following her six-furlong success in the Sharp Susan Stakes on August 9. Her upward trajectory has been remarkable: from a 30-1 outsider finishing fourth on debut in April to now a back-to-back stakes winner with three wins from four starts.
Reyes, encouraged by her gallop-out, suggested that even more ground may be within her scope. “I think she can get a mile and a sixteenth, maybe even farther,” he noted.
For now, Minguet remains cautious. “We’ll see how she comes back,” he said. “She has done very well with time between races — four to six weeks seems perfect for her. We’ll give her that, and then decide.”
Whatever comes next, one thing is certain: the Hallandale Beach Stakes confirmed Willow Case’s growing reputation. With another polished display, she has earned her place as one of Gulfstream’s brightest juveniles.
Read more Gulfstream Park race reports and news on RaceBuzz.
