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Marshua’s River At Gulfstream Headlined By Andina Del Sur

Author: Don Mckee
Published: Friday January 10, 2020
Andina Del Sur recorded her first graded stakes victory in the 2018 Florida Oaks (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs. Two years later, she will now take a shot at winning her second in the $150,000 Marshua’s River Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 11.

She only finished on the board once in six graded attempts since the Florida Oaks, but the conditions will be favorable on Saturday. She runs her best at the distance of 1 1/16 miles on turf. 

In those conditions, she has recorded three of her four victories. She will have a good shot at the grade 3 with the field she will be up against.

No Other Graded Stakes Winners

Among the other six older fillies and mares that will run, there are no other graded stakes winners. Two of her foes, Piece by Peace and Magic Star, are just maiden winners. Another runner, Malkia, will move up from starter optional claiming company. 

Andina Del Sur has made $470,750 from 19 starts, and she is the richest entrant and apparent class. She took two of her last three starts, winning the Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park Sept. 28 and the Forever Together Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 29. 

She is an impressive runner and really digs in, and both of her victories were photo finishes. 

"Especially going into her last race, she really put in a big effort," trainer Tom Albertrani said. "So, maybe there's a little bit to say about her getting better with age."

Javier Castellano was the jockey when Andina Del Sur took a neck victory in the Forever Together. He will return to ride the 5-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway owned and bred by Don Alberto Stable. 

She carries highweight of 122 pounds, about two to four pounds greater than her competition.

Sweet Bye and Bye

Andina Del Sur will not be able to make mistakes when going against Sweet Bye and Bye. The latter finished third when beaten as the favorite in the Forever Together, 1 3/4 lengths behind Andina Del Sur.

She had previously taken second while Andina Del Sur finished third in the Athenia Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park Oct. 20. She finished a half-length ahead of her rival in that race.

Sweet Bye and Bye will be under Luis Saez, and she is one of the two principal speed horses. The other is last-out maiden winner Piece By Peace, so Sweet Bye and Bye should be able to set or press easy fractions. 

The 5-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa is trained by Steve Klesaris, and she is a stakes winner in Pennsylvania-bred company for owner/breeder Joseph Imbesi. 

Munchkin Money has already raced over the Gulfstream course this winter. The 7-year-old New York-bred daughter of Freud ran third in the My Charmer Stakes Dec. 14 behind Mitchell Road and Take These Chains, two mares nominated but not entered in the Marshua's River.

Munchkin Money took allowance optional claiming races on the grass twice at Gulfstream in early 2019.

Magic Star has only scored one maiden race, and she finished sixth in a subsequent start in a first-level allowance at Belmont Oct. 26. She was with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Chad Brown. She took her debut at Saratoga Race Course Aug, 24.

Gulfstream will have two stakes on Saturday, including the Marshua's River, and the other will be the $100,000 Tropical Turf Stakes (G3T).