Musical Romance to start a good fall campaign from the Gallant Bloom Handicap
With the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint round the corner, connections are looking for a tough outing that would serve well than training for the race itself, which persuaded trainer Bill Kaplan to enter the 2011 champion female sprinter, Musical Romance, in the Grade 2, $200,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park on 22 September, 2012.
The Gallant Bloom field has depth, and the competition will test Musical Romance all the way, perfect for the 2011 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Also co-owned by Bill Kaplan in partnership with Pinnacle Racing Stable, Musical Romance has been away from the races for almost 2 months, and she is also exiting a half-length victory in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap.
At Calder Race Course on 7 July, 2012, Concorde’s Tune’s filly dug deep and ran well in the six furlong sprint to reel down, Nicole H, and second place finisher Nakano to cover the distance in 1 minute and 10.92 seconds.
Prior to the Princess Rooney Handicap, Musical Romance turned in a strong second in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs to winner, Groupie Doll, on 5 May, 2012.
“She’s gained weight. She’s a bigger, stouter mare and as sound today as the first day she ever raced,” Kaplan said. “I have no excuses at this point. But if she doesn’t win I’ll find one.”
There are other contestants in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom that can soften Musical Romance up, and the most likely to do it is the Todd Pletcher trained, Turbulent Descent, who is currently on a two-race win streak, and recently downed the Grade 1 Ballerina at about seven furlongs at Saratoga.
Richard Dutrow conditioned multiple graded stakes winning 5-year-old mare, C C’s Pal, is also effective from 6 to 9 furlongs. Florida bred daughter of Alex’s Pal is coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga going over a distance of six furlongs.
Emma’s Encore was good enough to beat Judy the Beauty by a nose in the Grade 1 Prioress at Saratoga, and will to turn in a similar run in the Gallant Bloom.
Musical Romance will break from post number 9 under her regular rider, J. Levya at 5 to 2, while Turbulent Descent from the outside in post position 10. She will be sent at 9 to 5, while C C’s Pal and Emma’s Encore are given 8 to 1 to down the Gallant Bloom, breaking from post 5 and 7, respectively.
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