Cellars Shiraz does it again

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Cellars Shiraz continued her dominance of the 3-year-old filly division this meet, registering her third straight stakes victory with a two length decision over Dame Sylvieguilhem in Sunday's $75,000 Via Borghese Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The versatile Cellars Shiraz added the Via Borghese to her earlier victories in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes and Gaily Gaily Stakes. The Via Borghese and Herecomesthebride were both decided on grass, the Gaily Gaily over the main track.

Cellars Shiraz was allowed to set a leisurely pace of :24.86 seconds and :49.33 during the early stages of the one mile and one eighth Via Borghese. She repulsed a bid from Ciudad de Carson leaving the backstretch then drew off readily under jockey Cornelio Velasquez when set down for the stretch run.

Dame Sylvieguilhem, racing a bit closer than usual off the slow pace, was forced four wide by Kathy K D into the stretch then outfinished that rival by a head for second money. Weepnomoremylady, CozieAdvantage, Always Country and Ciudad de Carson rounded out the complete order of finish.

Cellars Shiraz paid $4.20 after covering the distance in 1:48.41 over a firm course. She is owned by Bitterroot Investments Inc. and trained by Bill Cesare.

"It was easy, she's really a nice filly who is at her best right now," said Velasquez. "She doesn't need the lead but when we were going in :49 and change it was easy for her. There was no pressure."