Gulfstream Park witnessed a memorable afternoon on Saturday as Langvad produced a determined front-running performance to capture the $100,000 Carry Back, giving trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s longtime assistant Sabine Langvad a victory with a special personal connection.
Carry Back Stakes results
The three-year-old colt, owned by Steven Friedfertig and Shining Stables, broke sharply under jockey Micah Husbands and quickly established control in the seven-furlong contest. Named after the Norwegian-born assistant trainer, Langvad showed plenty of speed and resilience to repel the challenge from One Hundred Kings before drawing clear for a three-length success.
Langvad wins Carry Back Stakes with a commanding performance at Gulfstream Park, securing his first stakes victory.
Racing over a fast main track, Langvad completed the distance in 1:23.23 to register his third career win and first stakes success. The victory also marked Husbands’ third winner of the day as the young rider guided the colt through a confident display.
“It’s pretty cool. You never know with any horse, but it’s pretty special when you have a namesake that turns out to be good,” Sabine Langvad said after the race.
The Carry Back Stakes victory was built from the opening strides. Langvad broke alertly and moved ahead of Wayne’s Law, while One Hundred Kings applied pressure through the early stages. The opening quarter-mile was timed in 22.41 seconds, with the half-mile reached in 45.10 seconds.
Wayne’s Law improved position around the far turn, but Langvad continued to travel strongly. Turning for home, the Florida-bred son of Awesome Slew found another gear and pulled away to secure his second consecutive win, continuing his perfect front-running pattern.
“Sometimes he can be a little bit slow away from the gate, but Micah had a lot of confidence in him today,” Langvad added.
The final order saw One Hundred Kings finish second, followed by Wayne’s Law, Sonic Surge and Move Jesse Move. Moonstrocity, Ramajay and Demolition were scratched.
Langvad had already shown promise before his breakthrough stakes success. The colt graduated second time out against state-bred rivals last November and later competed against strong company, including the Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs. His recent form included a sixth-place finish in the Swale and a fifth in the Sophomore Sprint before returning to winning form in a Gulfstream allowance event.
For Sabine Langvad, the result carried added emotion. She joined Joseph’s stable as an exercise rider in 2017, became assistant trainer in 2019 and later returned to Joseph’s team in 2022 after a period working with another top racing operation.
The day also produced another stakes success for Joseph as Kerry’s Kiss captured the $100,000 Musical Romance Handicap for fillies and mares.
The four-year-old daughter of Vino Rosso, owned by Epic Horses, BAG Racing Stables and The White House Stables, secured a hard-fought victory over Grade 2 winner Indy Bay. Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, Kerry’s Kiss covered six and a half furlongs in 1:15.21.
Kerry’s Kiss showed early speed and took command from the start, setting fractions of 22.67 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.99 seconds for the half. Indy Bay launched a late challenge, but Kerry’s Kiss maintained her advantage to win by 2¾ lengths.
Just a Philly finished third, while Cooey, Gallop d’Hermes and Braganza completed the order of finish. Luvumorgan was scratched.
The result improved Kerry’s Kiss’ record to four wins, six seconds and one third from 16 starts. Previously based in the Midwest, the mare continued her upward progress after joining her new connections earlier in the season.
The day belonged to Langvad, however, whose Carry Back Stakes performance turned a meaningful name into a memorable winner’s circle moment.
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