Heavenly Landing despite slim chances, won the all important Marshua’s River after an amazing turn of foot
The 5-year-old Eddie Kenneally trained mare, Heavenly Landing, dwelled on dirt for 10 career starts with so little success, but Summerplace Farm’s mare was introduced to turf on 21 October, 2011, in an allowance test at Keeneland. The switch was the most important turn in the mare’s career, which helped her post a second career win.
Eddie Kenneally decided to keep her on turf and see how it goes from there, and that decision paid dividends when Heavenly Landing, sent as the 19 to 1 longshot, grabbed the initiative in a solid of 11 other fillies and mare in the Grade 3, $100,000 Marshua’s River Stakes at Gulfstream Park, on 7 January, 2012.
With Corey Lanerie aboard, the pair started picking off pretty late in the 1 1/16 mile test. They were settled at 11th after six furlongs and advanced three places to eighth, at the top of the stretch.
The 5-year-old Great Britain bred mare, Wallis, broke well out of the gate and jumped into the lead straight away to set fractions of 24.28 seconds for the quarter mile, 48.35 seconds for the half mile and it took her 1 minute and 11.82 seconds to reach the six furlong marker under jockey Jose Lezcano.
La Reine Lionne chased the pace setter closely, but she wasn’t alone as Louvakhova and Tapitsfly kept Wallis honest.
Under jockey J Velazquez, La Reine Lionne was pushed to take the lead from Wallis, approaching the mid-stretch.
She gamely took on the challenge, but it was Heavenly Landing’s perfect turf record on the line, as she rallied late to deny La Reine Lionne at the wire, and win the Marshua’s River Stakes.
“She showed considerable promise breaking her maiden on dirt earlier in her career in what seemed like a key race, but then she didn’t achieve what we had hoped for her,” Kenneally said.
“With her pedigree top and bottom, we decided to go to turf, but the first time she was entered it came off. Now she’ll stay on turf. We’ll take it one race at a time from here.”
The daughter of Pulpit extended her earnings to $189,384, and downed the likes of the favoured Daveron in fifth.
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