Marriedtothemusic comes from behind for win in Affirmed Success Stakes

Overcoming a horrible start, Marriedtothemusic ($3.00), the expected pacesetter in Friday’s $100,000 Affirmed Success Stakes, rallied from last to prevail over Night Maneuver and Weekend Hideaway in a three-way photo.

Marriedtothemusic is usually a very alert breaker, but he lunged into the air as the gates opened and spotted his five rivals a head-start, as rider Cornelio Velasquez briefly lost the left iron. Forced to go wide around the turn, he sustained a determined rally on the far outside to overtake Night Maneuver, who set moderate early fractions of 23.23 seconds and 46.18.

“My horse was a little nervous, and he jumped at the start,” said Velasquez. “He broke last, and I lost my stirrup. I had no choice but to come from behind horses. It was the first time he broke like this. If he broke good, I think he would have galloped.”

Marriedtothemusic prevailed by a head over Night Maneuver for his first stakes victory and ran six furlongs in 1:10.54 over a fast track. It was another head back to Weekend Hideaway in third.

Marriedtothemusic, formerly trained by the late Dominic Galluscio, won his second straight start for Linda Rice. The 4-year-old colt by Disco Rico improved to 7-3-0 from 11 starts overall.

“This win is definitely extra special for us,” said Rice. “Dominic was a good friend of mine. As far as I’m concerned, he’s still running for Dominic.”

Half Nelson, Be Bullish, and Bug Juice completed the order of finish.