Paulassilverlining triumphs in Gallant Bloom 'Cap

ELMONT, N.Y. - Paulassilverlining's best distance is probably six furlongs. On Saturday at Belmont Park, she won the Gallant Bloom Handicap at 6 1/2 furlongs. She will try to stretch her speed again in her likely next start, the seven-furlong Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

Owner Vincent Scuderi was exuberant in the winner's circle following Paulassilverlining's 3/4-length victory over a muddy, sealed track in the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom.

"She does like an off track, but she ran great," Scuderi said. "I think we're going to take a shot at the Breeders' Cup. I wasn't going to go if we didn't win, but now we have a little extra money."

Trainer Michelle Nevin seconded Scuderi's plan.

"I don't see why we shouldn't go," Nevin said. "I always expect her to run well because she always does. We'll discuss things and see what happens."

Nevin also is pointing By the Moon to the BC Filly and Mare Sprint for the Jay Em Ess Stable of Samantha Siegel. The $1 million race will be run Nov. 5.

It is rare that you hear a jockey critical of himself following a winning ride, but John Velazquez was second-guessing a decision he made during the Gallant Bloom.

Momameamaria set the pace with Paulassilverlining following along the inside and Wonder Gal to her outside. Velazquez said he debated whether to go inside or outside Momameamaria nearing the stretch, but as soon as he committed to the outside that horse began to drift, floating Paulassilverlining outward.

"And now I'm going to get carried wide," Velazquez said he thought to himself.

Paulassilverlining took the lead in upper stretch and then held Quezon safe by three-quarters of a length. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Wavell Avenue in third. Momameamari was fourth.

Paulassilverlining paid $5.60 as the favorite in the seven-horse field. She was time in 1:15.92. She is now 7 for 15 in her career with earnings of $843,950.

In her prior start, Paulassilverlining finished fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga, a race in which she may have moved too early.

"It was maybe not the trip we wanted," Nevin said.

By the Moon and Paulassilverlining are both 4-year-olds, who have been with Nevin their entire careers.

"They've grown up together," Nevin said. "It would be great to see them both in the Breeders' Cup."