Calder: Rose to Gold prompt favorite but Sr. Quisqueyano falters

Coady Photography @ Calder Casino & Race Course

Jockey Jesus Rios looks back for competition as Rose to Gold wins Saturday's Brave Raj Stakes by 13 1/2 lengths.

MIAMI - The leaders of the local 2-year-old division met with mixed results Saturday at Calder after Rose to Gold dominated the $100,000 Brave Raj Stakes for juvenile fillies but Sr. Quisqueyano suffered his first defeat at the hands of Itsmyluckyday in the $100,000 Foolish Pleasure.

Rose to Gold launched her career with a sensational 13-length victory in the one-mile Lindsay Frolic and came back on three weeks’ rest with a similarly lopsided 13 1/2-length decision over Caraquista and a thoroughly overmatched field of 2-year-old fillies in the one-mile and 70-yard Brave Raj.

Rose to Gold rated kindly off the early pace of Bama Rose, met with little resistance when sent up to overtake that rival on the final turn, then drew off with complete authority under jockey Jesus Rios. Caraquista overcame a slow start and wide trip to finish second, a length in front of the troubled Nicki Starshine.

Rose to Gold, a daughter of Friends Lake, is trained by Sal Santoro for owners Kathleen Amaya and Raffaele Centofanti. She completed the distance in 1:45.24 and paid $2.60.

“She’s two for two with both wins against stakes company so I’d say at the moment she’s a good filly,” said Santoro. “If she comes out of it well I think we’ll go to Keeneland with her for the Alcibiades. I have to sit down and talk to the owner first and confirm what will be next.”   

Sr. Quisqueyano had won all three of his starts coming into the Foolish Pleasure, the last two by a combined 26 lengths. But he met his match in New Jersey invader Itsmyluckyday. Sr. Quisqueyano stalked the early pace of Billos Boy under confident handling, gained a brief lead on the far turn but proved not match for the winner, who edged away to a three-length victory under jockey Manoel Cruz. The maiden, Joshua’s Comprise, finished nearly six lengths further back in third.

Itsmyluckday is a son of Lawyer Ron owned by the partnership of Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa. Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., Itsmyluckday ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:45.45 and returned $9.20.

“I’d been dying to run him a distance, he’s been screaming he wants longer,” said Eddie Plesa who has been based primarily at Monmouth Park this summer. “The success he’s had going short was only because I didn’t have any other options for him.”