Heavy overnight rain forced a change of plans at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, but it proved no setback for Vincey Girl as the five-year-old mare adapted immediately to the unfamiliar Tapeta surface to secure a determined victory in the $100,000 Powder Break.
Owned by Blu Boy Racing and Matty Dan Racing, Vincey Girl was making her first appearance on an all-weather track in her 18th career start after the scheduled turf contest for fillies and mares aged three and above was transferred from the grass. The surface change did little to slow her progress as she produced a strong finish to register a half-length success over 1 1/16 miles.
Vincey Girl won the Powder Break Stakes 2026 after rallying from the back of the field and taking control after the far turn.
The mare completed the distance in 1:43.13, earning the second stakes victory of her career. Her previous stakes success came in last year’s Sheer Drama Stakes over seven furlongs on Gulfstream Park’s main track, with both victories achieved under jockey Edwin Gonzalez.
“She was doing OK on the dirt, but she liked the Tapeta,” Gonzalez said after the race. “She got a little bit tired at the end, but she got the job done.”
Gonzalez, who recorded his second victory of the afternoon, kept Vincey Girl settled near the rear of the seven-horse field during the early stages. City Minute and favourite Miss Mary Nell disputed the pace, covering the opening quarter-mile in 23.48 seconds, while Laigina followed closely behind.
The half-mile mark was reached in 48.21 seconds, with Gonzalez allowing Vincey Girl to travel comfortably on the outside before beginning her move around the far turn.
As the field approached the stretch, Vincey Girl accelerated into contention and took command. Fantasy Performer produced a late challenge after finding room along the inside but could not close the gap, leaving Vincey Girl to secure the win.
“She was sitting perfect. I didn’t want to move a little bit early because she was coming off a little bit of a layoff,” Gonzalez explained. “We had to go a little bit wide. I didn’t have any room to go inside to save some ground, so I kept her outside and followed the speed. It worked out perfect.”
Fantasy Performer finished second, 1½ lengths ahead of Make the Boys Wink in third. Hello Hello Hello, Laigina, City Minute and Miss Mary Nell completed the order of finish. Little Jamie, Calathea and Turino were withdrawn before the race.
The victory improved Vincey Girl’s record to six wins, two seconds and three thirds, with her earnings now exceeding $300,000. Before the Powder Break, she had raced exclusively on dirt, competing against several accomplished performers including graded stakes winners Ways and Means, Haulin Ice and Mystic Lake.
Her previous outing came in the Grade 2 Bed o’ Roses at Saratoga on June 5, where she finished fifth. She had also shown promise around two turns earlier in her career, finishing fourth in the Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth Park last May.
Trained by Jose D’Angelo, Vincey Girl was bred in Florida by Robert Williamson and Farnsworth Farm. The mare’s victory added another notable chapter to the history of the Powder Break, a race named in honour of the accomplished mare who won 11 of 44 starts between 1983 and 1986.
Powder Break developed into one of the leading older mares of her generation, recording major victories including the Grade 2 New York Handicap at Belmont Park, the Grade 2 La Prevoyante Invitational Handicap at Calder Race Course and the Grade 1 Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park against male rivals.
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