Sandal’s Song victorious in the Royal Palm Juvenile (Coglianese)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Dew Sweepers’ Sandal’s Song rallied past 4-5 favorite Squire in early stretch and continued on to register an upset victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile at Gulfstream Park, giving trainer George Weaver a return trip to Royal Ascot.
The five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds co-headlined Saturday’s program with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, a five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-old fillies won earlier in the day by Lennilu, the 4-5 favorite coming off a debut victory at Keeneland. Saturday’s co-features each offered its winner a fees-paid berth in one of six stakes for 2-year-olds during Great Britain’s Royal Ascot meeting (June 17-21) and a $25,000 equine travel stipend.
Weaver swept the 2023 Royal Palm races with No Nay Mets in the Juvenile and with Crimson Advocate in the Juvenile Fillies. Crimson Advocate went on to capture the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
“We’re excited. Hopefully, if he comes out of it well, we’ll try to get to Ascot,” Weaver said. “We’ve got the lay of the land. We understand it. It takes a good horse, and I think we got one.”
Sandal’s Song, a son of Mendelssohn who was sent to post at 7-1, was making his debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile, in which he broke last in a field of eight from his No. 1 post position. He quickly recovered under jockey Luca Panici while advancing along the inside to sit behind dueling pacesetters Beers on Me and Squire heading into the far turn. Taking advantage of a quick first quarter of a mile in 21.90 seconds, Panici eased Sandal’s Song off the rail to make a three-wide sweep on the turn into the homestretch. Squire, the Patrick Biancone-trained stablemate of Lennilu, took a lead into the stretch but was unable to withstand surging Sandal’s Song, who drew away to win by 1 ½ lengths.
“I expected something special because I worked the horse. I was confident,” Panici said. “The trip was perfect. I think he has a very, very nice future.”
Sandal’s Song ran five furlongs on a firm turf course in 56.30 seconds. Squire, who was ridden by Luis Saez, finish second, 5 ½ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Arkadelphia.
“I had the filly [Royal Testament] in the other race and the one hole was a disadvantage for both of them although it affected her more than the colt,” said Weaver of Royal Testament, who finished sixth. “He was able to get up in a nice position before they hit the turn. I don’t really hone on my first time starters. He’d done enough. I knew he was fast. Good horses go out there and do what they’re supposed to do. I never worked him on the grass, but he had some turf in his pedigree. Luca worked him out of the gate on the dirt up there [at Palm Beach Downs]. He only went in 50 and change and he said he was a nice horse. He worked No Nay Mets in 51 here and said the same thing. If he comes out of this race well I’d like to take him there Ascot). I see no reason not to. I feel comfortable he’s the caliber who should go if he’s doing well.”
