Stonetastic carries speed seven furlongs in Inside Information

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Stonetastic asserted her class edge to add another graded stakes win to her resume, leading throughout to register a decisive 3 3/4-length victory over longshot Tiger Ride in Saturday’s Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream Park.

With Paco Lopez scooting her along from the start, Stonetastic used her abundant speed to set a rapid pace in the seven-furlong Inside Information, going her opening half-mile in a swift 44.35 seconds. But Stonetastic, a 5-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast who won the Grade 2 Prioress at 3, was never seriously menaced once switching leads shortly after settling into the stretch, easily maintaining a safe advantage over Tiger Ride through the final furlong. With Edgar Prado replacing the injured Luis Saez in the saddle, Tiger Ride slipped through near the inside to be second-best while never a serious threat to the winner. Engaginglee finished third.

Stonetastic added the Inside Information to a similarly one-sided victory five weeks earlier in the Miami Shores Handicap. The win was also her first in five starts at seven furlongs, two of which came in the last two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. She covered the distance in 1:23.22 and paid $4.40.

“In the Breeders’ Cup last year we took her back but maybe rating is not her thing,” said Kelly Breen, who trains Stonetastic for Stoneway Farm. “If she can shake loose, if that’s going to be her thing, it looks like the obvious thing for that to be her style from now on. Paco knows her, Paco’s confident with her on the front end, and if f you can go 44 and 1 on the front end and keep going, you’re a pretty nice horse.”

Breen mentioned several options for Stonetastic’s next start, including the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 6.