Naples Bay wins career finale in Marshua's River

Last updated: 1/4/14 5:46 PM

Naples Bay enjoyed the firm ground in her racing swan song

(Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Winless in seven starts dating back to September 2012, Naples Bay got back on
the right track both figuratively and literally when posting a mild 8-1 upset of
Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000
Marshua’s River at Gulfstream Park.

A perfect two-for-two over Gulfstream’s turf course prior to the Marshua’s
River, the Edward Cox Jr.-owned six-year-old kept that flawless course record
intact with a come-from-behind win under Joe Bravo. She paid $18.20 after
completing 1 1/16 miles over firm ground in 1:41 3/5.

Tracking in sixth while saving ground, Naples Bay bided her time as
Silverette carved out fractions of :24 3/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 3/5. Coming under
pressure from Somali Lemonade and Angelica Zapata at the top of the stretch,
Silverette began to weaken while Naples Bay waited for running room. Splitting
rivals past the eighth pole, Naples Bay forged clear to win by a length.

Somali Lemonade, a multiple Grade 3 winner sporting blinkers for the
first time, held off Angelica Zapata by a head for second at odds of 12-1.
Abaco, the 5-2 favorite, finished a half-length behind in fourth. Completing the
order of finish were Deanallen’skitten, Silverette, Floral Romance, Viva
Rafaela, Rose to Gold, and Poetic Kid. Scratched from the race were Miss
Montreal and Dreaming of Sophia.

“She’s a very nice filly, but unfortunately she’s much better on firm turf
and the past year we kept meeting softer grass,” said trainer Christophe Clement
of the Giant’s Causeway mare. “Today, I was just hoping that the rain would hold
off. It was a little bit of a luck situation but it worked out. She had a great
trip and Joe gave her a great ride. She goes off to stud now and Mr. Cox is
sending her to Frankel, so we wish her the best of luck in her new career.”

Naples Bay concludes her career with earnings of $338,770 from a line of
18-5-3-1. In addition to a prior Grade 3 victory in the 2012 Noble Damsel at
Belmont, Naples Bay placed in two other stakes at the level: the 2012 My Charmer
Handicap at Calder and the 2013 Matchmaker at Monmouth.

Bred in Kentucky by Albert Bell and Joyce Bell, Naples Bay was produced by
the stakes-winning Bailjumper mare Cappucino Bay. That makes Naples Bay a
half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and prominent sire Medaglia d’Oro, as
well as the multiple stakes-placed Expresso Bay. Also hailing from this extended
family is Grade 1 winner Travelling Music.

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