After finishing third in her seasonal debut in the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes, 7-year-old Romacaca will try to secure the 11th stakes victory of her career and third at Gulfstream Park when she faces an expected seven other fillies and mares in the $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 9.
A consistent Running Stag mare, Romacaca has won or placed in 16 stakes races in her five seasons of racing. Frank Calabrese's Romacaca was bred in Florida by Cashel Stud.
While the field entering the 1 1/8 mile turf race includes an accomplished group of stakes performers, the surging Abaco also is intriguing as the 5-year-old Giant's Causeway mare makes her stakes debut for owner/breeder Phipps Stable.
"I've been lucky to be able to use her conditions," said trainer Shug McGaughey. "She's come around, and this is another step for her. It's her first time in a stakes, and I'm sure it will be a very competitive race."
Some of the other accomplished entries include 2011 Queen's Plate Stakes winner Inglorious, and grade III winners Kya One, Leading Astray, and Hard Not to Like.
$150,000 Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT, race 10, approximate post time 4:59 p.m. EST), fillies and mares, 4YOs & Up, 1 1/8 miles (turf, rail 108 feet)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Inglorious (ON), J. Rosario, 117, J. Carroll
2. Leading Astray (IL), J. Lezcano, 121, C. Block
3. Kya One (FR), P. Lopez, 121, C. Brown
4. Hard Not to Like (ON), J. Rocco Jr., 121, M. Matz
5. Channel Lady (KY), J. Castellano, 119, T. Pletcher
6. Romacaca (FL), L. Saez, 121, D. Miller
7. Affair Dabbler (KY), C. Lanerie, 117, D. Kassen
8. Abaco (KY), J. Velazquez, 119, C. McGaughey
9. My Pal Chrisy (FL) (MTO), J. Castanon, 117, P. Lutchman