Sumaya Us Stables’ ISOLA PIU BELLA (Chi) (Rich Man’s Gold) rallied up the
rail in her U.S. debut, the Banshee Breeze S., took the lead in the stretch then
gave way late to finish third. On Saturday, the five-year-old mare broke through
with her first win stateside in style, taking the $100,000
Sabin H. (G3) at
Gulfstream Park by 2 1/2 lengths under jockey John Velazquez.
Now trained by Todd Pletcher, Isola Piu Bella ran in third on the outside of
Pampered Princess (Indian Charlie) and Daydreaming (A.P. Indy) as the former set
splits of :24, :48 1/5 and 1:12 3/5. As the field reached the turn, Daydreaming
started backing up and Adobe Gold (Touch Gold) moved up to take her place.
However, it was Isola Piu Bella who had the most momentum, passing her rivals on
the outside past a mile in 1:37 4/5 before completing the nine-furlong fast
track test in 1:50 3/5.
Sent off at 5-2, Isola Piu Bella paid $7.20, $4.60 and $4.80 while keying the
$15.60 exacta ($1), $49.50 trifecta ($1) and $73.50 superfecta ($1) (3-1-5-2).
Pampered Princess held second by a length and was worth $5 and $4.20 at 4-1.
Adobe Gold, the 8-1 fourth choice, gave back $5 and was followed under the line
by 3-5 favorite Daydreaming and Valiant Dancer (Valiant Nature). Path of Thunder
(Thunder Gulch) was withdrawn.
Isola Piu Bella was named champion three-year-old filly in her native Chile
in 2003 after capturing four Group 1s. Her record now stands at 13-7-2-1 with
$224,960 in lifetime earnings. Bred by Haras Sumaya in Chile, the bay mare is
out of Sweet Music (Inchwood), who is also the dam of Group 2 hero El Sombra
(Roy).