In what is expected to be her final start, Successful Song secured the most lucrative victory of her career when she cruised through the stretch to register an easy win in the $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes Jan. 19 at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).
After tracking rivals in third through an opening quarter mile in :23.75 and a half-mile in :48.16, Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation homebred Successful Song seized the lead in the far turn and then showed a gear none of her rivals possessed on this day, drawing off to a 3 1/4-length victory under Joel Rosario.
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Successful Song secured her fifth career stakes win by completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.28 on the sloppy, sealed track.
"She did what she needed to do," said winning trainer Eddie Plesa. "She's getting good and I guess she's getting ready to start her new career. This easily could have been her last start. That was the plan unless they change their minds. We'll see what happens."
A 6-year-old Successful Appeal mare out of the stakes-winning Sultry Song mare Song for Annie, Successful Song improved her career record to 8-5-5 in 27 starts with earnings of $597,538. The bay mare was coming off a victory in the one-mile Ocala Stakes at Gulfstream Dec. 30. In that race, she defeated Golden Mystery, who was also a winner on Florida Sunshine Millions day in the Filly and Mare Sprint.
Successful Song paid $4.40 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.20 to show. Runner-up Speak Easy Gal, a grade III winner, paid $4.60 to place and $3.20, while My Pal Chrisy, 2 3/4 lengths farther back in third, returned $2.60 to show.
Delray Lady, who set the pace for a half-mile, Tale of Peace, Score Boyera, and Mud Honey completed the order.