Curlin's Approval wins Ana T. Stakes; Pay Any Price takes Crystal River

Curlin’s Approval served notice that she’s back and ready to defend her title later this month in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney by registering a convincing three-length victory over Rich Mommy and three other overmatched rivals in Sunday’s $75,000 Ana T. Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Making her first start since a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Royal Delta on Feb. 19, Curlin’s Approval stalked the pace of longshot Ms. Scarlet Fever, stuck her head in front while confidently handled by Tyler Gaffalione approaching the quarter pole, edged clear near midstretch, and was never seriously threatened thereafter.

Rich Mommy swung widest with her bid into the stretch and outfinished the tiring Ms. Scarlet Fever to be second. Yes I’ll Go and Doritza rounded out the order of finish.

The win was the first in eight months for Curlin’s Approval, a homebred daughter of Curlin owned and trained by Happy Alter. She ran seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:22.72 and paid $2.80.

The seven-furlong Princess Rooney is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Curlin’s Approval won the Princess Rooney by 4 1/2 lengths last summer but was never a factor, finishing far back after a rough start, in the Breeders’ Cup.

“This race was really what we needed as a stepping-stone,” said Alter, who owns Curlin’s Approval with Bridlewood Farm. “Having that time off, this was really the first step in going on to the Princess Rooney. She’s really blossomed back to where she was when she won the Princess Rooney last year. Each breeze was dedicated to be a ladder back to the top.”

Like Curlin’s Approval, Pay Any Price could have designs on a Breeders’ Cup berth, in the Turf Sprint, this fall at Churchill Downs. He took a big step in that direction with a popular, 5 1/4-length, wire-to-wire victory over Moonwalker in the $75,000 Crystal River Stakes going five furlongs on the grass. It was a similar distance back to third-place finisher Gemstorm.

Pay Any Price, who has battled foot issues throughout his career, set the North American record for the distance on turf at Gulfstream Park last winter. The Crystal River was the second consecutive one-sided victory and the 10th win in 14 starts at Gulfstream for Pay Any Price ($3.40), who races for Richard Averill and Matties Racing.

Regular rider Edgard Zayas was aboard the 8-year-old son of Wildcat Heir for trainer Ralph Ziadie.