BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL—Live Oak Plantation homebred Souper Zonda, outkicked when fourth behind winner Destino d’Oro in the $125,000 Tropical Park Oaks last month, had plenty in reserve when it came to catching pacesetter Rugelach in mid-stretch and capture Saturday’s $75,000 Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park.
The 24th running of the Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf for older Florida-bred females going a mile on the grass, followed Lightning Tones’ repeat victory in the $75,000 Sunshine Classic to close an 11-race program.
Ridden for the first time by Tyler Gaffalione for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, Souper Zonda covered a firm turf course in 1:33.32 for her third career victory and first in a stakes after three prior attempts. The victory increased her career earnings to $135,782.
“Credit to Mark and his team. I’m very thankful to pick up the mount here today and get the win,” Gaffalione said. He was aboard in place of Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who took off his mounts this weekend following the death of his father-in-law, retired trainer Leo O’Brien, on Thursday.
“She did everything today, I was just a passenger,” he added. “She broke alertly and traveled well throughout. We had a good lead in front of us and when I asked her for run, she really finished up nicely and put them away well.”
Rugelach, racing first time for trainer Sam Wilensky, was hustled from the gate by jockey Edwin Gonzalez and led through spirited fractions of :23.57 and :46.45 followed at a distance in second by Souper Zonda, who broke one spot outside Rugelach in outermost post nine.
The gap between the top two began to close after six furlongs went in 1:09.57, with Rugelach clinging to the lead as Souper Zonda rounded the far turn and swept up to challenge. Gaffalione set the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin down for a drive and she reeled in the leader before edging clear by a half-length.
“They kind of left it up to me to play the break and see what the situation looked like. On form, there was a lot of speed but it didn’t really develop that way. There was one speed horse out in front and we were able to just track her nicely,” Gaffalione said. “She was traveling really well against the bit most of the way and I just kind of kept building her up. And when I let her out, she found another gear.”
Rugelach stayed up for second, three lengths ahead of defending champion Ashima. They were followed by Souper Williwaw, Spirited Boss, Luz de la Luna, Miss Mary Nell, Sapphire Girl and Lady Cha Cha. Multiple stakes-winner Great Venezuela, last year’s Filly & Mare Turf runner-up and the 5-2 program favorite, was scratched.
Souper Zonda paid $14.60 to win.
Souper Zonda is out of the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Zonda, who has two starters from five foals, both winners, including stakes-placed Florida-bred In Her Glory. In Her Glory was second in the last year’s Presque Isle Debutante.
Souper Zonda has an unraced 2-year-old filly, Bolt Island, by Bolt d’Oro and a yearling filly, Fru Fru Can Win, by Practical Joke. She was bred to Munnings in 2025.
Live Oak Stud purchased Zonda, winner of the 2019 Maryland Million Ladies Stakes, for $500,000 out of the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. Zonda is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-producer Sennockian Storm.
— Brock Sheridan contributed to this story
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