BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Ralph R. Murray and Calstar Farm’s Miss Vyvyanne used her quickness to extend her win streak to four with a length-and-a-half victory in the $67,500 Golden Beach overnight handicap at Gulfstream Park. Ridden by Pietro Moran for trainer Gail Cox, the Florida-bred Miss Vyvyanne covered five furlongs on the firm turf in :55.52 while besting five other fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older.
The field broke evenly before Miss Vyvyanne emerged rapidly from post five as Moran angled the 6-year-old mare to the inside. Miss Vyvyanne raced alone through fractions of :21.99 and :43.72 with Le Amazonia giving chase in second. Miss Vyvyanne galloped home a clear winner ahead of Le Amazonia in second.
“I thought there was other speed and felt we’d play it off the break, but she made the lead so easy,” Cox said.
Florida-bred Great Venezuela, the even-money favorite, finished third. They were followed by the Florida-bred trio of Tree C’s Kai, Cart Girl Sam and Demar’s Legacy. Breezero and Creed’s Gold were scratched.
“She runs her best races when she’s up there. She’s really fast. She just takes me there and she does the rest. She’s a pretty honest horse and very nice to ride,” Moran said. “She was just cruising. As soon as we hit the quarter pole I knew I had lot of horse. The closer she got to the wire, she did what she needed to do.”
Miss Vyvyanne paid $6.60 as the second choice in the wagering at 2-1.
Claimed for $32,000 in June by Cox and Murray out of her second straight win against optional claiming fillies at Woodbine, Miss Vyvyane was next fifth against second condition, $50,000 optional claiming filles on the synthetic main track at Woodbine on August 31. She has not lost in three starts since, including a two-and-three-quarters-lengths victory over second level, $125,000 optional claiming fillies going five furlongs on the Gulfstream synthetic last out on March 14.
“Truly, she’s run well for everybody. She’s just a nice filly. We just gave her a break that I don’t think she’s had for a long time because she’s gone from barn to barn,” Cox said. “We brought her to run thinking turf, but then she ran so well on Tapeta here too.”
Miss Vyvyanne has now won six of her last seven races and improved her career record to 11 wins in 23 starts with two seconds and a third. She earned $42,500 to increase her career bankroll to $408,659.
Miss Vyvyanne is by Rainbow Heir out of Caribean Beat, by Half Ours and was bred in Florida by Tom McCrocklin and Gerald Martin.
Return to the April 11 issue of Wire to Wire
