Majestic Venezuela gets more ground on turf in Martha Washington

Majestic Venezuela picks up the added real estate she’s bred to like Saturday when she attempts to win her third straight race in the $95,000 Martha Washington at Gulfstream Park.

Majestic Venezuela will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles for the turf race for 3-year-old fillies that drew 10.

“I like the distance,” trainer Victor Barboza Jr. said.

The Martha Washington goes as the finale on an 11-race card that starts at 12:55 p.m. Eastern. The $95,000 Not Surprising for open 3-year-olds at the same distance on turf is slotted as the fourth race. The eight-horse field is led by In a Jam and also drew Dancing Groom, the third-place finisher from last year’s Grade 1 Champagne.

In the Martha Washington, Majestic Venezuela could start as second choice behind the Antonio Sano-trained De Regreso, who has won her last two starts in a span that includes the Honey Ryder at Gulfstream. Majestic Venezuela won a maiden special weight over the local synthetic track April 7, then won her turf debut in a first-level allowance over 7 1/2 furlongs May 19.

“First try on the turf, it was an impressive win,” Barboza said. “I think we have a good chance in the race. I think the one mile and a sixteenth is much better this time for my filly. The pedigree for long distance is good.”

Majestic Venezuela is by Mendelssohn and out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Downtown Diva. Barboza noted the mare produced Grade 3 Canadian Turf winner Venezuelan Hug, who was 5 for 5 at 1 1/16 miles on turf, a record that included three stakes wins at Gulfstream.

Orlyana Farm bred both horses and races Majestic Venezuela.

“She’s a very good filly,” Barboza said. “A nice filly.”

Majestic Venezuela has won races from both on and off the pace, and Barboza looks for her to employ tactics similar to the stalking style used last out in the allowance. Emisael Jaramillo has the mount from post 8.

“She’s good-minded,” Barboza said. “Her first races, in the starting gate, she was nervous. Now, she’s much better. She’s a very good filly for the future.”

Welcome Back, who starts from post 9, was fifth in the Honey Ryder. She closed from 10th in the one-mile turf race May 4 in what was her first out since September.

“She needed the race because she came from the layoff, and she ran very well,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “Now, she’s more fit. I think she’s going to run good.

“The race is tough.”

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De Regreso’s effort in the Honey Ryder yielded a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 85, which also is the best last-race number in the Martha Washington.

Welcome Back, who won last year’s Desert Vixen division of the Florida Sire Stakes, was making her turf debut in the Honey Ryder.

“I always thought she’d be better on the grass, and that’s why first time with her we ran on Tapeta,” D’Angelo said.

There was no turf racing last July as the local course was under renovation.

Edwin Gonzalez has the mount for Soldi Stable.

Mojave Desert, who worked a half-mile in a bullet 45.80 seconds on Tapeta on June 2, was supplemented to the Martha Washington.

Not Surprising

In a Jam was second by a neck in the English Channel at a mile on turf May 4 at Gulfstream, and the Beyer of 85 that he earned is the best career number in the Not Suprising. Earlier in the meet, In a Jam won a maiden special weight and first-level allowance over the turf. He will remove blinkers Saturday.

Jaramillo has the mount from the rail for trainer Mark Casse. Gary Barber owns In a Jam, who is a half-brother to Grade 2 winner Taxed.

Prevent set a quick pace in the English Channel and finished fourth. He might have a chance to wire the field Saturday. He appears to have more natural speed than most of his rivals and could get favorable fractions on the move from a mile to 1 1/16 miles. Prevent won a first-level allowance over the local turf course April 12. Hector Diaz Jr. has the mount for trainer Juan Alvarado.

Dancing Groom was sixth in the English Channel. It was the first turf start for the horse who earlier this year ran in a handful of preps for the Kentucky Derby. Dancing Groom won his maiden in an off-the-turf race at a mile last year at Saratoga.

The Not Surprising has a pair of supplemented horses in Secret Lover and Echo Lane.

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