BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Sweet Dani Girl remained undefeated in two starts since joining the barn of trainer Christophe Clement after winning an upper-level, $62,500 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Park Saturday. After defending her title in the $89,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf at a mile at Gulfstream on Jan. 14, Sweet Dani Girl continued her winning ways at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass against six other fillies and mares, 4-years-old and older, with jockey Leonel Reyes.
Her $57,200 first-place share of the $86,400 purse included a $5,000 Florida-bred win bonus presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Sweet Dani Girl was purchased by Michael Dubb, Steven Bouchey, New Phoenix Stable and America’s Pastimes Stables LLC from J & J Stable LLC and Nicolas Vaccarezza after finishing second to Oeuvre in a Keeneland allowance race in October, concluding a year in which she was named the Florida-bred Champion Female Turf Horse by the FTBOA.
In addition to winning the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf last year, Sweet Dani Girl won the $110,000 Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff at Tampa Bay Downs in March on Florida Cup Day. She was also second to Didia (Arg) in the Grade 3 Modesty and third in the Grade 3 Mint Julep won by Herietta Topham in 2023.
In Saturday’s victory, the 5-year-old daughter of Jess’ Dream tracked leader Gloria’s Princess from two-and-a-half lengths back before taking the lead inside the final sixteenth to win by a half-length in 1:40.46 on the firm turf.
Papillo (Ire), the 8-5 favorite, finished second, a neck ahead of Charmed Way in third.
Sweet Dani Girl paid $7.80 to win.
Sweet Dani Girl won for the sixth time in 15 career starts with two seconds and two thirds to increase her career revenues to $494,610. She is out of My Sweet Dani Girl, by Scat Daddy and was bred by J&J Stables LLC and Carlo Vaccarezza.
