Galiana was much the best in today’s Primonetta Stakes at PImlico. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Winless in three stakes since opening the year successfully in Florida, Triple R Stables’ Galiana returned to the winner’s circle with a come-from-behind victory in the $100,000 Primonetta Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
The six-furlong Primonetta for fillies and mares three and up was one of six stakes worth $575,000 on the 10-race program, the first of three big weekends during the Preakness Meet at Pimlico.
Sent off at 8-1 in a field of eight, Galiana ($18) hit the wire in 1:11.27 over a fast main track, 2 ¾ lengths ahead of 2-1 favorite She’s Ordained. It was another neck back to Tarnished in third, followed by 3-1 second choice Sustainable, Aix En Provence, Romantica Mia, Wherethere’sfire and Queen’s Blade.
“Our only concern coming into this race today was that she may not like the track. She’s never run here before, and she can be picky,” trainer Rodolfo Romero said. “Happily, she took to the track today and [jockey Abel] Lezcano rode her well.”
Breaking from post 7, Galiana settled off the pace under Lezcano as Tarnished took the field through a quarter-mile in 23.23 seconds and a half in 46.54. Lezcano swung Galiana three wide at the top of the stretch for a clear run, taking over the top spot in mid-stretch and drawing away.
“We didn’t have much speed today, so we saved ground,” Lezcano said. “At the three-eighths pole I knew my horse was strong. I let him out in the stretch and then, poof, he went.”
A chestnut New York-bred daughter of Stonesider who ran third in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) Feb. 14 at Gulfstream Park, Galiana has now won five stakes among her 12 career victories and pushed her bankroll to $469,121 from 24 starts.
Romero indicated he would point Galiana to the $100,000 Skipat on Black-Eyed Susan Day, May 15, at Pimlico.
