Keeneland undercard: Gina Romantica, Yuugiri win stakes

It was a Peter Brant-Chad Brown exacta in the 26th running of the Grade 1, $750,00 First Lady as Gina Romantica collared defending champion and stablemate In Italian in deep stretch to win by a head on Saturday at Keeneland.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Gina Romantica completed the mile over a firm turf course in 1:33.70.

This is the sixth consecutive year Brown has saddled the First Lady winner. He has won the race seven times overall. This is the third consecutive First Lady victory for Brant, who now has won eight graded stakes to earn a Keeneland Tray as part of the track’s signature milestone trophy program.

In Italian, with Joel Rosario aboard, dictated the pace in the field of eight with unopposed fractions of 23.40 and 46.80 seconds and 1:10.12. In Italian brought a clear advantage into the stretch with Gina Romantica emerging as the only threat. Gina Romantica swept by passing the sixteenth pole to secure a second Grade 1 victory at Keeneland to go with her win in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Watch the full replay of the First Lady (G1) Presented by @UK_HealthCare, GINA ROMANTICA guts it out to the finish! pic.twitter.com/74VHngSy1s

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 7, 2023

A Keeneland sales graduate, Gina Romantica is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Special Me. The victory was worth $447,563 and increased her earnings to $1,108,603 with a record of 10: 5-2-0.

Dismissed at 11-1 odds, Gina Romantica returned $25.02, $6.26 and $4.30. In Italian, the 2-5 favorite, paid $2.42 and $2.10 and finished 3½ lengths in front of Evvie Jets, who returned $5.58 to show under Jose Ortiz.

It was another half-length back to Whitebeam in fourth with Gam’s Mission, Jumbly (GB), New Year’s Eve and Thisnameisokay following in order.

Yuugiri edges Wicked Halo in TCA 

In the 43rd running of the Thoroughbred Club of America, Yuugiri and Wicked Halo hooked up at the top of stretch and dueled through the lane with Yuugiri getting her nose in front at the finish.

Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tsunebumi Yoshihara, trained by Rodolphe Brisset and ridden by Flavien Prat, Yuugiri completed the 6 furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10.44. The win gave Brisset his first Keeneland stakes victory, and Yuugiri earned a spot in the starting gate for the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint to be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Watch the full replay of the First Lady (G1) Presented by @UK_HealthCare, GINA ROMANTICA guts it out to the finish! pic.twitter.com/74VHngSy1s

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 7, 2023

Yuugiri and Happy Soul dueled through early fractions of 22.12 and 45.48 seconds with Wicked Halo and Tyler Gaffalione lurking just behind. On the turn, Gaffalione sent Wicked Halo after the leaders and the race was on.

Wicked Halo claimed a narrow advantage in the upper stretch only to have Yuugiri fight back on the inside through the lane and prevail at the finish.

Yuugiri is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Shackleford out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Yuzuru. Saturday’s win marks the second graded stakes victory for Yuugiri, who improved her record to 14: 7-2-1 and increased her earnings to $1,190,585 with Saturday’s $212,660 check.

Yuugiri returned $5.76, $3.18 and $2.60. Wicked Halo, sent off as the slight favorite, returned $2.88 and $2.36 and finished 5 lengths in front of Last Leaf, who paid $3.80 to show under Luis Saez.

It was another length back to Fire On Time, who was followed in order by Happy Soul, Static Fire and Be Like Water.