Veil of Avalon Captures Del La Rose Handicap

• Print

Slight favorite Veil of Avalon overtook Snow Dance in the final strides to win Friday's $100,000 De La Rose Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a nose in a blanket finish at Gulfstream Park. 30-1 longshot Wander Mom finished third, a neck behind Snow Dance.

After Please Sign In led the field into the stretch, Wander Mom took a short lead in mid-stretch before Snow Dance rallied under Pat Day to gain a slight advantage. Veil of Avalon then wrested the lead from Snow Dance to notch the victory.

Ridden by Edgar Prado, Veil of Avalon was timed in 1:42.06 for the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf and paid $6.60, $3.80, and $3.60. Snow Dance paid $4.00 and $3.80. Wander Mom paid $9.60 to show. The winning exacta combination returned $25.80.

Windsong finished fourth, followed by second betting choice Batique, Clearly a Queen, Guillotine, Unbridled Vice, Please Sign In, My Sweet Westly, O K to Dance, and Cherry Tree Hill.

John F. Newsome's Veil of Avalon earned $60,000 for the win, her seventh in 18 career starts and second stakes win. She won three of 10 European starts for Jeffen Racing and trainer Rj Carlton before coming to trainer Christophe Clement last year. The 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Thunder Gulch sold for $361,200 as a yearling. Out of Wind in Her Hair, by Alzao, Veil of Avalon was bred by Orpendale and Barronstown Stud. (Chart, Equibase)

• Print