Gulfstream Park: Ullapool takes Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint for fourth straight win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ullapool’s journey on Saturday was made much easier by the first step of R Free Roll. It appeared that those two could end up in a heated duel in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint at Gulfstream Park, but when R Free Roll broke behind the field, Ullapool found herself on an uncontested lead, and she and jockey Jose Lezcano seized the opportunity.

Ullapool ($6.40) led the six-furlong race from start to finish and staved off a belated bid from My Pal Chrisy to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:10.41 on the fast main track. My Pal Chrisy finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Salamera. R Free Roll was fourth, then came Classic Point and Ladyfromhavana.

Sweet N Discreet was scratched in favor of the Distaff, which she won.

The win was the fourth straight for Ullapool, three of those coming since returning from a layoff of more than a year.

Her trainer and co-owner, Eddie Kenneally, said Ullapool has “just matured of late.”

“She’s much better than she was at 3,” Kenneally said of the 5-year-old mare.

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

Kenneally said Ullapool’s career was interrupted by “a couple of lung issues.”

“She got pretty sick. We gave her as much time as she needed,” he said.

Ullapool, a daughter of Langfuhr, has won seven times in 14 starts. She is 5 for 7 since being claimed by Kenneally for $25,000 in May 2012. Since then, she has earned almost $300,000.