Lou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli, and Lanni Bloodstock’s Sultana delivered a dramatic late rally to capture Saturday’s $175,000 Orchis (G3) at Gulfstream Park, in a performance that marked a triumphant return off the shelf. The Kevin Attard-trained filly, unraced since her stakes debut victory in the Nov. 8 Maple Leaf (G3) at Woodbine, outpaced a seasoned field over 1½ miles on the turf, showcasing poise, stamina, and determination. The Orchis has long stood as a highlight for older fillies and mares, and this year’s running did not disappoint.
Sultana settled comfortably off the early pace under Junior Alvarado, while front-runner Ayra Stark dictated terms with Ramsey Pond pressing and Speed Shopper stalking, alongside the favored Bellezza. Through the first mile, fractions ticked by at a brisk 23.79, 48.71, and 1:24.22, with little change in positioning. As the field turned for home, Sultana made her move three-wide, steadily closing ground on the leaders. Ayra Stark, under Joel Rosario, fought to maintain her lead, but Sultana proved resolute, taking command in the final strides to win by a neck. Ayra Stark held second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Speed Shopper in third.
“Kevin wanted to make sure my filly gets relaxed. That’s what I was working on throughout the race. I got some cover and she was very kind to me,” Rosario said. “When I got her to the outside, I could tell she was going to be game to the end.”
Sultana covered the 1½ miles in 2:24.47, a testament to her class and composure. The filly has limited experience on turf, with just one prior start in five races, but that outing—an optional claiming allowance over 1 1/16 miles—hinted at her aptitude on grass. Her Maple Leaf win had set high expectations, and she delivered on Saturday despite the layoff.
“She’d been training really well at Palm Meadows,” Attard said. “It was a tough task for her off the bench, but she looked physically great. Her last campaign ended with a nice win in the Maple Leaf over a mile and a quarter. Her turf performance last season was her best to date, so we were eager to get her back on the grass. I was a little concerned about the pace setup, but it turned out a little quicker than expected. Junior gave her a perfect ride—she settled and came with a good run when called upon.”
The 62nd running of the Orchis highlighted a stakes-laden 14-race card at Gulfstream, featuring ten stakes—five graded—worth $2.675 million in total purses, capped by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1). Sultana’s victory adds an exciting chapter to the filly’s early career and signals her potential in turf routes going forward.
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