BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Florida-bred Beauty of the Sea became the first stakes-winner for Bucchero, who stands in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions, as the 3-year-old filly won the $104,000 Blue Sparkler over five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Monmouth Park Saturday.

Let go at odds of 13-1 in the field of eight sophomore fillies, Beauty of the Sea provided more than a big payday for owner Harlan Malter, who races in the name of Ironhorse Racing Stable LLC, as he is also the managing partner for Bucchero.

After breaking from post two, Beauty of the Sea and jockey Jairo Rendon raced on the rail in fourth, about three lengths behind Bosserati, who had sprinted to a clear advantage down the backstretch while finishing the first quarter mile in :21.51. Bosserati continued to have a length-and-a-half advantage turning for home before Beauty of the Sea chased her down in the stretch to win in 1:02.68 on the firm turf and finish a head faster than a late running My Sweet Affair in second. Love Appeals was third followed by 5-2 favorite Plentitude in fourth. Bosserati, Florida-bred Dream Concert, Talk to the Judge and Lady Irvine completed the order of finish.

“I saw her races at Gulfstream and it seemed like she liked being just off the speed and she quickens at the end,” Rendon said. “When [Bosserati] went out for the lead, it gave us a target. [Beauty of the Sea] has class and she has a big heart. I just wanted to sit behind the speed and let her get her feet. I was a little worried when I went outside with her because I knew the others were coming. But we got there. She made it.”

Beauty of the Sea took her third consecutive race in the Blue Sparkler after winning against $50,000 maiden claimers going five furlongs on the turf in her third career start on May 5 at Gulfstream Park. She then defeated first level, $20,000 optional claiming fillies bred in Florida by two lengths at five-and-a-half furlongs on the synthetic course on June 3, also at Gulfstream.

The victory gave trainer Joe Orseno his 1,994^th career win and affirmed the potential talent he had suspected earlier in Beauty of the Sea.

“After she broke her maiden so convincingly and easily—and I had another filly in the race that she beat easily—I thought `okay, she’s got some talent. Now we have to see how much,’” Orseno said. “She handled that [first level optional claimer] easily in her next start, and when she did that, there were a couple of older horses in there. I thought if we kept her with 3-year-olds we would have a chance in a stakes race.

“I did not expect this race to come up as tough as it did.”

Beauty of the Sea paid $28.20 to win.

Out of the unraced Poseidon’s Warrior mare Belong to Sea, Beauty of the Sea was bred by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc. She was a $29,000 RNA out of the Omar Ramirez Bloodstock consignment at the 2022 OBS June Sale but has now earned $118,960 from three wins in five starts with one second.

Beauty of the Sea is the first foal produced by Belong to Sea, who also has a unraced 2-year-old colt, Little Starships, by Gone Astray. She was bred to Neolithic in 2022. Both Gone Astray and Neolithic also stand at Pleasant Acres Stallions.