Musical Romance coming off the pace claimed the Grade 3 Presque Isle Masters at Presque Isle Downs
The 4-year-old William Kaplan trained filly, Musical Romance, in the field of 12 at Presque Isle Downs went all out to post her first graded stakes win in the Grade 3 Presque Isle Maters over a distance of 6 ½ furlongs on 10 September, 2011.
Under Juan Levya, the rider who has now guided the filly to four wins out of six starts this season, Musical Romance witnessed an early pacey duel between the long shot Robert Gorham trained Waccamaw and Promised Mandate.
Musical Romance was kept close to the action by jockey Juan Levya, and in close pursuit, Pinnacle Racing Stable owned filly built her momentum from there.
The pair of Juan Levya and Musical Romance have never been out of the money, and the jockey showed exactly why in the Presque Isle Maters.
Musical Romance didn’t show much urgency in the beginning of the race and sat in third off the early leaders. The impressive early run from the two leaders set up brisk opening fractions in the 6 ½ furlong race.
However, the dominance over the field of 12 didn’t last much longer by Waccamaw and Promised Mandate, as they fell apart coming out of the turn.
Waccamaw under jockey Ronald Dale Allen, Jr. couldn’t maintain his speed as he went toward the rail, at the same time Promised Mandate under Augusto Marin drifted out, eventually leaving ample space for Musical Romance to exploit.
Juan Levya slid Romantic Music through the gap and into the lead, as the winner gradually parted herself from the tiring front runners.
Just when it was looking good for Musical Romance, favoured Ariana D and Shotgun Gulch came out of nowhere to challenge the leader.
With the powerful runs in the middle of the track, both Ariana D and Shotgun Gulch sent ominous signs and threatened to snatch the lead from Musical Romance.
Juan Levya was determined and under strong urging he kept Musical Romance away from the steaming Ariana D, who finished a neck behind Musical Romance in second place.
Musical Romance upped her earnings to $460,734, and the filly improved her run to four wins out of 12 starts with two seconds and a lone third place finish in her entire career.
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