Bluefield has no trouble with Musical Romance
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The ageless Bluefield added to her already impressive 2024 resume’ by rallying to a popular and very easy 3 1/2-length victory over Cousin Kristi and four other overmatched rivals in Saturday’s $100,000 Musical Romance Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
The 8-year-old Bluefield began the season by finishing second in the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes and, after a disappointing effort when wheeling back just three weeks later in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel, has now won her last two starts for owner-breeder Edward Seltzer and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
With Drayden Van Dyke substituting for jockey Edgard Zayas, who was at Lone Star to ride for Joseph in two stakes on Saturday evening, Bluefield rated in perfect striking position behind her stablemate, the pacesetting Mojave Desert. Van Dyke angled Bluefield out four wide to commence her rally into the stretch, the odds-on favorite readily overtaking the leaders nearing midstretch before drawing off in impressive fashion.
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The much-improved Cousin Kristi, who gave Bluefield all she could handle before dropping a hard-fought neck decision when the two met under allowance conditions six weeks earlier, prompted the early going before sticking her head in front turning for home. And while ultimately no match for the winner, Cousin Kristi ran on gamely to readily best Hihellohowareyou by 1 3/4 lengths to finish second in her stakes debut.
Bluefield, a daughter of Field Commission, completed 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:16.50 seconds and returned $3.60 while giving Van Dyke, who switched his tack locally at the behest of Joseph earlier this month, his third win on the card.
“I spoke with Saffie this morning. He told me to ride her with a little bit of finesse and get a good tactical spot and not to be on the lead. That’s where I found myself,” Van Dyke said. “He told me to work my way out if I could. I couldn’t work my out until late, but it worked out really well. She came home with a nice kick.”
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