Merry Meadow stalks to victory in Sky Beauty

Merry Meadow was prominent throughout for a 1 3/4-length win Saturday in the $90,000 Sky Beauty at Gulfstream Park West. The race was one of two stakes featuring fillies and mares. In the $90,000 Sparkler, Fascinate was a 3 1/2-length winner over Jewel of a Cat.

The Sparkler was at five furlongs on the grass, while the Sky Beauty was at six furlongs on the main track. R Free Roll, a leading candidate in the latter race, was scratched.

Merry Meadow ($5) tracked the pace in third in the Sky Beauty, as Best Behavior took the field through fractions of 22.92 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.65 for the half-mile. Merry Meadow advanced, took the lead in the stretch, and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:11.60.

Ramsey Zimmerman was aboard for trainer Mark Hennig.

Merry Meadow races for William Parsons Jr. and David S. Howe.

Fascinate ($14) sat just off the pace in third early on in the Sparkler, with What a Party leading through an opening half-mile in 44.97 seconds. Fascinate overtook that one and shuttled clear while covering the distance on firm ground in 56.38.

Antonio Gallardo was aboard the winner for trainer Efren Loza Jr. Fascinate races for St. George Stable LLC.