Lone Stable's Parranda extended her recent success against other Florida-breds when she took command off the far turn and was never threatened late in the $150,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).
The three-length victory extended the 5-year-old English Channel mare's success at Gulfstream and against state-breds, as she has won three straight stakes at the Hallandale Beach, Fla. track. All three of those efforts were turf races restricted to Florida-bred fillies and mares.
Parranda entered Saturday’s race off a close fourth-place finish in the My Charmer Handicap (gr. IIIT) Dec. 7 at Calder Casino & Race Course. But before that solid effort, she posted clear victories in the Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview Stakes and the Our Dear Peggy Stakes against Florida-breds at Gulfstream.
Trained by Rodolfo Garcia, Parranda was guided to victory by Jose Lezcano as the pair completed the 1 1/8-mile race on firm turf in 1:47.94. Garcia credited Lezcano with an excellent ride.
"It was excellent. He did everything right. She finished great," Garcia said. "As of late, she wants to be closer. She used to (come from) way off the pace. She likes to be on the outside. He waited until he could go to the outside, and from there I knew she was going to close like she did. We got an A-effort ride, and a perfect win."
She was followed home by a pair of longshots in Miller Racing’s E B Ryder, sent off at 24-1, and Sunshine Thoroughbred Corp.’s 58-1 shot Nicki Starshine, who narrowly missed the runner-up spot by a nose. Race favorite Wishing Gate, who shipped in from Southern California for Glen Hill Farm and trainer Tom Proctor, challenged early but faded to fifth at 4-5.
Sharapova Slams set the pace, getting the first half mile in splits of :23.46 and :47.68 befoe Parranda poked her head in front after six furlongs in 1:11.78.
Parranda returned $7.60 to win, $4.60 to place, and $3.80 to show, while E B Ryder paid $14.80 and $8.20. The exacta was worth $90.40. Nicki Starshine returned $16.60 to show.
Bred in Florida by Kinsman Farm, Parranda is the first starter for the winning Rahy mare Dynamic Feature, who is a half sister to grade III winner Sisterly Love. Lone Stable landed the chestnut runner for $13,000 at the 2011 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training where she was consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent.