Earns $25,000 FSRI Bonus, Winner No. 13 for Roadster
BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Roadsterella went four-wide around the turn then emerged from a three-horse skirmish at the top of the stretch to win a five-furlong maiden special weight on the all-weather course at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
In addition to taking down the $34,300 winner’s share of the $52,010 purse, Roadsterella earned a $25,000 Florida Sire Racing Incentive bonus for owner and breeder John C. Minchello of Lynn, Massachusetts.
Capped at $1 million and administered by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, the FSRI program pays $20,000 to the owners and $5,000 to the breeders of eligible 2-year-old Florida-sired, Florida-bred 2-year-olds who win maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming and stakes at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
Roadsterella is also the thirteenth winner from 25 starters for Ocala Stud’s freshman sire Roadster. The 13 winners ranks Roadster second among all freshman sires in North America, behind only Florida-bred Golden Pal, who stands in Kentucky.
Jockey Marcos Meneses and Roadsterella broke fastest from post seven among the eight 2-year-olds then raced in the four path just off Maxymiss, American Reign and Expectations. Maxymiss raced a head in front of and inside American Reign around the turn after a :21.50 quarter-mile with Expectations and Roadsterella in close pursuit to their outside.
Maxymis, Expectations and Roadsterella turned for home three across the track but Roadsterella drew off in the stretch to win by two-and-a-half-lengths in :57.48 on the fast track. Expectatoins was second second with Maxymiss a half-length farther back in third. Fib, Florida-bred Starship Contender, Jack’s Honey, Aysia Princess and American Reign completed the order of finish. Golden Grey and Florida-breds My Last Bucky and Winning Charm were scratched.
Roadsterella was let go at 8-1 and paid $19.40 to win.
It was the second start for Roadsterella, who was fourth in a four-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight for fillies won by Prime Aurora at Gulfstream on May 29.
Roadsterella is the fifth foal out of the winning Ecton Park mare Cindyrella, who also raced for Minchello. Cindyrella, a half-sister to 2004 Spend a Buck (G3)-winner Built Up, has three winners from four starters and five foals and was bred to Pleasant Acres Stallions Neolithic in 2026.
Return to the September 12 issue of Wire to Wire
