Mended extends winning streak in Claiming Crown Glass Slipper

The 4-year-old filly Mended ran her winning streak to 10 when speeding away to another eye-catching romp Saturday in the first of nine Claiming Crown races at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Always prominent under Ricardo Gonzalez, Mended effortlessly shrugged off a couple of chasers before prevailing by 6 3/4 lengths over Sugar Cube in the $110,000 Claiming Crown Glass Slipper. The winner paid $4.20 as favorite in a field of 14 fillies and mares after finishing a one-turn mile in 1:36.42 over a fast track.

Mended has not lost since she was claimed for $12,500 in January at her home base, Golden Gate Fields in northern California. The 10-race streak includes wins over dirt, turf, and synthetics, with her margins of victory ranging from 1 1/4 lengths to 8 1/4 lengths.

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Mended, a Kentucky-bred by Broken Vow, has “just gotten better every time she ran,” said John Martin, who trains Mended for Troy and Maritza Onorato. “She wasn’t even tired after today’s race. They picked her out to claim, so I’ve got to give all the credit to the owners.”

In the other early Claiming Crown events:

► First Growth ($11.80) swept to the lead with an outside rush at the quarter-pole and drew off under Gerardo Corrales in winning the $110,000 Claiming Crown Express by 3 1/2 lengths over Blings Express.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Candy Ride, First Growth completed six furlongs in 1:09.61 when making his first appearance since Aug. 30. He finished first in seven of his 10 prior races (but was disqualified in two of those wins), with every start but one coming in Ohio. Odin Londono Jr. trains for Michelle Winters.

► Blue Bahia ($5.20) added to a breakthrough year for trainer Jason Servis when drawing off as the favorite under Paco Lopez in the $110,000 Claiming Crown Distaff Dash.

Bred and owned by Dennis Drazin, Blue Bahia, a 4-year-old Florida-bred by Wildcat Heir, finished five furlongs in 56.89 seconds over a firm turf course. Servis, based primarily in New York, already has compiled career highs in wins and earnings in 2017.

► Twocubanbrothersu ($10.20) won for the 20th time in a 49-race career when opening a clear lead down the backside and finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear of a belated stretch run from favored Rich Daddy in the $110,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse.

Ridden by Daniel Centeno, Twocubanbrothersu finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.22. The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Harlington is co-owned in partnership by Stephen Deraney and trainer John Rigattieri.