Grand Sonata hits the wire first in the Mac Diarmida, Coglianese Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Whisper Hill Farm’s Grand Sonata, winless in his previous 10 races, ended his long drought Saturday with a victory in the $225,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
The 7-year-old dug in late to hold off Echo Lane by length, with Anegada settling for third, another length back.
The 30th running of the Mac Diarmida for older horses going 1 3/8 miles on the grass was the eighth of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $2.025 million in purses immediately preceding the $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds on the road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for trainer Todd Pletcher, Grand Sonata had last won at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7, 2024, in the Fanduel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G2). But he had success earlier in his career at Gulfstream, where he won the Kitten’s Joy Stakes (G3) there in 2022.
Gaffalione rode three graded stakes winners on Saturday’s card, all coming on the turf. Pletcher won a pair of stakes, including the Davona Dale with She Be Smooth.
The victory increased Grand Sonata’s career earnings to $2.6 million while improving his record to six wins in 34 career starts.
“He’s such a good horse,” Pletcher said. “We gave him a little bit of a break last fall, and he’s come back really well. He seems to be rounding into his best form.”
Gaffalione is very familiar with the horse, having ridden Grand Sonata in 16 of his previous starts.
“Todd’s done a great job bringing him back,” Gaffalione said. “He felt great today. He was there every step and finished the job. Today I took him off the pony, he was much sharper. He broke sharp and traveled like a winner the whole way, maybe he’s figured things out once he gets more involved.”
Grand Sonata completed the trip in 2:11.26.
Just Basking Closes Late To Win $175,000 The Very One (G3)
Andrew Schwarz and Wendy Schwarz Gilder’s Just Basking closed from last to first to capture the $175,000 The Very One Handicap (G3), a 1 3/8-mile turf event for fillies and mares.
Sent off at odds of 13-1, the 5-year-old Just Basking was taken back by jockey Javier Castellano, allowed to settle along the rail, and surged past the field in the stretch to prevail by length over No Show Sammy Jo.
“I had a beautiful trip,” Castellano said. “That was what I was looking for today. I was a little concerned being last in the race, but I didn’t want to change my style. It’s really hard to come from behind. I have to give all the credit to the horse, the way he finished. It was an amazing kick.”
Trained by Ian Wilkes, Just Basking was making her second start following an 11-month layoff but had never prevailed on the turf. As a 3-year-old in 2024, she finished third in the Alabama (G1) at Saratoga and posted her only previous stakes score in the Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows.
Gallant Greta established the early pace in The Very One and maintained her advantage into the stretch before receiving a challenge from No Show Shammy Jo, who was able to snatch the lead.
But Just Basking, who mounted her charge from the outside, was able to reach the wire first in a time of 2:11.31. Dona Clota took third, length behind No Show Sammy Jo.
