A poised ride from jockey Miguel Vasquez made all the difference as Andrea clinched a gritty victory in the $75,000 Azalea Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The three-year-old filly, representing C2 Racing Stable LLC, Kuehne Racing, and Mark Corrado, proved her mettle in the seven-furlong contest tailored for sophomore fillies, fending off a determined late surge from outsider Nerazurri.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Andrea brought prior stakes-winning experience to the table, having secured the Hallandale Beach last fall. Though not the top betting choice this time, the daughter of Thousand Words entered with confidence and composure. Vasquez, partnering with her for the first time, allowed her to settle after an alert break. The pair strategically tucked in behind the front-runner Fede, who dictated brisk early fractions under Emisael Jaramillo.
By the time the field turned for home, Vasquez had maneuvered Andrea into a striking position. Her conserved stamina became a crucial asset, as she responded willingly when asked and surged ahead to finish the trip in 1:22.38. She held off Nerazurri, a long-priced rival who hadn’t shown much in her recent start, but closed with purpose this time to grab second.
C2 Racing’s Mark Cornett praised the jockey’s awareness and ability to adapt mid-race. Vasquez, in turn, noted the filly’s fierce attitude and finishing kick, attributing his tactical decisions to diligent pre-race video study.
While Andrea celebrated her second career stakes triumph, the heavily backed Luvumorgan failed to fire and faded to fourth, despite having previously outpaced the winner in March. Fede, who briefly led the charge, was overtaken late and settled for third.
For Andrea, Saturday’s win adds another layer to her growing resume and reaffirms her status as a serious contender among her peers. The new combination with Vasquez might just be the spark she needed to reclaim her winning rhythm.
