Willow Case. (G Sonny Hughes)
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Amanda Hernandez’s Willow Case, making her third start and first in a stakes, swept to the lead leaving the far turn and splashed home a 25-1 upset winner of the $75,000 Sharp Susan for 2-year-old fillies.
Willow Case ($56) was the third win of four wins on the day for jockey Leonel Reyes, who was riding the juvenile daughter of Neolithic for the first time. Reyes also won with I Love Venezuela ($4.40) in Race 5, Snappy Comeback ($5.40) in Race 6 and Starship Boeing ($8.80) in Race 9.
“It’s been a good day,” Reyes said. “I have to thank the owners and my agent because everything is possible through them. I hope to keep it going.”
Tessellate, sent off the 9-5 favorite, broke sharply and was in front quickly before settling back in third as Evolution took the field through a quarter mile in 22.04 seconds as Dakota’s Lil Auror raced along the rail and Victory Music battled between horses.
Reyes tipped Willow Case out wide midway on the far turn and she opened up once in the clear, gliding across the wire 3 ¼ lengths the best in 1:11.51. Tessellate edged Dakota’s Lil Auror in a photo for second, with Victory Music, Mo Hijinx, Street Belle and Evolution completing the order of finish. Haute Diva and Late Night Text were scratched.
“The trip was OK,” Reyes said. “I tried to put her in a good spot. The track was sloppy today, but she got good position. When we came to the three-eighths pole she was really going good, and she galloped out strong. I felt I had a lot of horse.”
Bred in Florida by Sherry Mansfield and Ken Davis, Ramon Minguet-trained Willow Case was fourth in debut April 17 at Gulfstream but came back two weeks later with a determined neck maiden special weight victory, both sprinting 4 ½ furlongs.
