BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL—Orlyana Farm’s Great Venezuela showed up yet again Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where the ultra-consistent 4-year-old filly registered a thoroughly professional length victory in the $70,000 Portofino Bay overnight handicap.

While finishing in the money for the 13th time in her 13th career start, Great Venezuela, the 8-5 second betting choice ridden by Leonel Reyes, prevailed over 3-5 favorite Mrs. Gambolini in the five-and-a-half-furlong handicap for fillies and mares contested over the Tapeta course.

“She’s a very consistent filly,” trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said. “Leonel gave her the perfect ride.”

Great Venezuela, who had finished a well-beaten second behind Mrs. Gambolini in the $61,980 Golden Beach overnight handicap at Gulfstream on April 27 and third behind stablemate Tiffany Gold and Mrs. Gambolini in the $59,120 Lady’s Island overnight handicap on turf on May 25, stalked pacesetter Trumpets into the stretch before outkicking the favorite to the finish line.

“The difference today was my position was better. She had traffic in her last two races,” Barboza said.

The daughter of Neolithic, who stands in Florida at Pleasant Acres Stallions, notched her eighth victory from 13 starts and her sixth win from seven starts on Tapeta. She is out of Pat M’s Image, by Leroidesanimaux (Brz) and was bred by Orlyana Farm. She has now earned $335,120 from eight wins, three seconds and two thirds.

“She’s very consistent on both tracks, but six wins and one second on Tapeta is very good,” Barboza said.

Great Venezuela, who sat just off Trumpets’ fractions of :21.91 and :44.45 for the first half mile, completed the five-and-a-half furlongs in 1:02.38 while carrying the second hightweight of 123 pounds. Mrs. Gambolini, the 124-pound highweight ridden by Edgard Zayas, finished second. Trumpets and Edgar Perez finished third, two-and-a-half lengths farther back, in a field reduced to four starters by the morning scratches of Tiffany Gold and Oh Darlin.

Return to the June 28 issue of Wire to Wire