Gulfstream Park will host a competitive Saturday feature as Grade 2 winner Indy Bay returns to action looking to build on a convincing comeback victory in the $100,000 Musical Romance Handicap. The 4-year-old mare will face six rivals in the 6 ½-furlong contest for fillies and mares aged three and older.
Musical Romance Handicap
The Musical Romance Handicap is part of a 10-race card that also includes the $100,000 Carry Back for 3-year-olds over seven furlongs on the main track. First race post time is scheduled for 12:20 p.m.
Indy Bay returned to top form last month after stepping away from stakes company for the first time in more than a year. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and representing Agave Racing Stable and Miller Racing, the daughter of Take Charge Indy came from off the pace to win by 7 Âľ lengths in a seven-furlong optional claiming event on May 24.
Musical Romance Handicap preview
The Musical Romance Handicap preview centres around Indy Bay, who will attempt to follow up that performance against a field featuring three runners from the Joseph stable.
“We kind of went back to the drawing board,” Joseph said after Indy Bay’s return to the winner’s circle. “She had a few runs where we couldn’t really find out why she wasn’t running well. She was training just as good.”
Indy Bay had previously finished second in the one-mile Mo Green overnight handicap on April 18 before struggling in two graded events during the 2025-2026 Championship Meet. Her recent victory provided the confidence boost Joseph was hoping for.
The mare already owns two stakes wins, beginning with a narrow victory in the Jersey Girl Stakes at Saratoga last summer before adding the Charles Town Oaks (G2) six weeks later. She later competed in the Cotillion (G1) before returning after a four-month break.
Joseph believes the latest success can serve as a foundation for bigger targets ahead, including the Princess Rooney.
Micah Husbands will ride Indy Bay from Post 3. The leading contender carries the top weight of 125 pounds.
Joseph’s other runners include Kerry’s Kiss, Cooey and Luvumorgan. Kerry’s Kiss makes her first start for the trainer after arriving from Oaklawn Park, where she won an optional claiming race going 1 1/16 miles. The 4-year-old daughter of Vino Rosso will cut back to one turn for the first time in seven starts.
Cooey returns to dirt after finishing fifth on the Tapeta surface earlier this month. The Girvin filly impressed after joining Joseph last year, winning two straight races including a 6 ½-furlong victory in December.
Luvumorgan, who has not raced since March, is unlikely to compete according to Joseph.
Just a Philly enters the race chasing a third consecutive victory for trainer Herbert Miller. Claimed earlier this year, the 4-year-old daughter of Girvin has continued to improve and owns a previous win at the Musical Romance distance.
Miller expects Indy Bay to be the main challenge but believes his runner can stay close and make her presence felt.
The field is completed by Gallop d’Hermes and Braganza, who add further depth to the Gulfstream Park feature.
The race honours Musical Romance, a Florida-bred star trained and co-owned by the late Bill Kaplan. She won 12 of 41 starts and collected several major victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and Princess Rooney (G1).
Indy Bay will now aim to prove that her latest performance was the start of another strong chapter in her career as she takes on a talented group in the Gulfstream Park feature.
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