Devine Aida splashes to Herecomesthebride win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Before the balance of the Saturday card at Gulfstream Park was canceled because of heavy rain, the Grade 3, $150,000 Herecomesthebride Stakes was run in a sea of slop – and without morning-line favorites Consumer Credit and Quality Rocks in a race originally scheduled for turf.

Those defections were to the direct benefit of track chairman Frank Stronach, whose Unbridled’s Song filly Devine Aida splashed to a 6 3/4-length victory over her five remaining opponents in the 1 1/16-mile race. The Herecomesthebride likely will have its Grade 3 status for this running examined by the American Graded Stakes Committee because of the surface switch.

Amid one of many downpours of the day – conditions were so severe that the last seven of 12 scheduled races were canceled – Devine Aida, ridden by Jesus Rios, took over entering the backstretch and steadily drew off, finishing in 1:49.01 over a sloppy surface. It was the fourth straight win for Devine Aida, a Kentucky-bred based at Gulfstream with trainer Ramon Morales. She returned $5.80 to win.

Sweet Swingin finished second, another nine lengths before her Dale Romans-trained stablemate, Temper Mint Patty, in a badly strung-out field. Besides the top two program choices, Pine Needles also was scratched when the race came off the turf.

Devine Aida finished second in her career debut in September before winning a maiden race, a first-level allowance, and the ungraded Ginger Brew leading up to the Herecomesthebride.

The $2 exacta (1-2) paid $16.80, the $1 trifecta (1-2-6) returned $14.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (1-2-6-3) was worth $4.83.