Gulfstream Park: Successful Song draws away in Sunshine Millions Distaff

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – If this was the swan song for Successful Song, she sang.

In what was likely the final start of her career, Successful Song rolled to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff for older females Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

With jockey Joel Rosario aboard, Successful Song ($4.40), the favorite, surged to the lead in the 1 1/8-mile race entering the far turn and drew off to a sizeable advantage. Speak Easy Gal, who was making the final start of her career, rallied for second, with My Pal Chrisy third.

Successful Song completed one lap around the sloppy main track in 1:52.28.

Her trainer, Eddie Plesa Jr., said he was happy Rosario seized the opportunity nearing the far turn when the longshot Delray Lady, who led early, gave up the rail.

“He’s as good as there is,” Plesa said of Rosario. “I have full confidence in him. He was in a good position. I like everything he did.”

Now 6, Successful Song has won eight times in 27 starts, and the $180,000 paycheck – the richest of her career – on Saturday brought her career earnings to just shy of $600,000. Plesa said after the race that Charlotte Weber, whose Live Oak Plantation owns and bred Successful Song, will decide soon on whether to breed her this year, but Plesa indicated before the race he thought this would be it.

Regardless, Successful Song is headed next to Live Oak in Ocala, Fla. Plesa said she usually gets a breather from racing this time of year. Only this time, it likely is permanent.