Gemologist has flashy first winner

Grade 1 winner Gemologist was represented by his first winner Saturday, when Morganite won what looked like a solid maiden special weight at Del Mar, coming four wide into the stretch and drawing clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Morganite, out of the Wild Rush mare Crazy Woman Creek, was a $360,000 purchase at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March sale of 2-year-olds in training. She now runs for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler.

Finishing second in the maiden event was Champagne Room, a Broken Vow filly who was a $310,000 purchase at the OBS April 2-year-old sale; third was Ruby Trust, a daughter of the late Smart Strike. Recovering to finish fourth after a troubled start was Noted and Quoted, a daughter of promising freshman sire The Factor. She was a $375,000 purchase at OBS March.

Morganite was the eighth starter for Gemologist, who won five of seven starts for WinStar Farm, including the 2012 Wood Memorial. He retired to WinStar, standing alongside sire Tiznow, for the 2013 season.