Heavily favored Dust and Diamonds, making her first start for trainer Todd Pletcher, proved much the best in the $100,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes (gr. III) on December 8th at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Dust and Diamonds got off to an alert start from gate five and quickly sprinted to the front, setting fractions of :22.92 and :45.17 while being tracked by Honey Chile, Hearts of Red, and Golden Mystery. Nakano and Sacristy were the early trailers.
Turning for home Golden Mystery moved up to try and challenge Dust and Diamonds for the lead, but the favorite had plenty left in the tank and drew clear under a hand ride in the final furlong to win by 2 3/4 lengths. The time for six furlongs was a quick 1:08.66 seconds.
Golden Mystery stayed on well to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of the late-running Nakano. Sacristy, Honey Chile, and Hearts of Red completed the order of finish.
The winner, a daughter of Vindication out of the Gone West mare Majestically, is owned by Borges Torrealba Holdings and Three Chimneys Racing. She has now compiled a record of 6-1-4 from 11 starts, with earnings of $496,260.
-Keelerman
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