29 Mzo. USA. Shirley Jones H. G2. Gulfstream Park. 7f. Dirt. 200.000 $
1.- SUGAR SWIRL (J.Castellano)
2.- BARONESS THATCHER (J.Lezcano)
3.- SHAGGY MANE (C.Velasquez)


Stronach Stables’ homebred Sugar Swirl continued her domination of Gulfstream Park’s filly and mare sprint division with another open-length victory on Saturday in the $170,000 Shirley Jones Handicap (G2).

The five-year-old Touch Gold mare remained undefeated in three starts this year, all at Gulfstream.

Sugar Swirl was keen to race under Javier Castellano who kept her under a stout hold as she raced just off the early pace. She eagerly took over in early stretch en route to a 5 1/2-length triumph, her fourth straight victory.

Sugar Swirl earned a third consecutive graded stakes win in the seven-furlong race, which was originally set for March 22 but rescheduled due to heavy rain. She covered the distance in 1:22.57 on a track rated as fast as the 7-to-10 favorite in the six-horse field.

Castellano had Sugar Swirl well in hand as she raced in fourth behind Shaggy Mane and Featherbed, who dueled through a swift opening quarter in :22.28 and a half-mile in :44.81 while Baroness Thatcher chased from third.

The 124-pound highweight, Sugar Swirl was angled out by Castellano and began her rally on the home turn before taking a two-length lead in early stretch. Baroness Thatcher made a determined run but was no match for the chestnut mare, who extended her advantage through the stretch for the comfortable win.

“This is a great filly,” Castellano said. “She’ll do whatever you want. She was on her toes today.”

Third-place finisher Shaggy Mane finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Baroness Thatcher.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Sugar Swirl entered off an 8 3/4-length romp in the Hurricane Bertie Handicap (G3) on February 17 at the Hallandale Beach, Florida, track. She annexed the First Lady Handicap (G3) by 2 1/2 lengths in her season debut on January 13 for Lynch after capping her 2007 campaign with a three-length victory in the Very Subtle Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Sugar Swirl improved to nine wins in 19 career starts in four seasons. Bred in Ontario, she is out of the stakes-winning Distinctive Pro mare Astrapi.