Spanish Loveaffair ($63), longest shot in field, runs away with Pebbles Stakes
ELMONT, N.Y. - Spanish Loveaffair was one of several 3-year-old fillies in Sunday’s $150,000 Pebbles Stakes at Belmont who was looking for a return to better days.
With a turnback in distance, firm turf and a forwardly placed ride by Junior Alvarado, Spanish Loveaffair returned to the winner’s circle, taking the Pebbles as the 30-1 longest shot in the field of 11 at Belmont Park.
After stalking from second the pace of Spirit of Bermuda, Spanish Loveaffair took over in midstretch and then ran away from any would-be challengers to take the Pebbles by 2 1/4 lengths over Jordan’s Leo. It was one length back to Runaway Rumour, who nosed out Our Flash Drive for third.
Plum Ali, the 5-2 favorite who appeared to be struggling with the surface early, rallied to finish fifth. She was followed by Spirit of Bermuda, Nazuna, Minaun, Third Draft, Keeper of Time, and Lovestruck. Miss Dracarys and Oyster Box scratched.
At 2, Spanish Loveaffair won the Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream and was second to the highly regarded Aunt Pearl in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland. She began her 3-year-old campaign by getting disqualified from a win in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at Gulfstream Park in February.
From there, Spanish Loveaffair caught less-than-firm ground in four straight races, including an eighth-place finish in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at 1 1/4 miles, a distance which was likely too far for the daughter of Karakontie.
“She’s been running with tough company, she had a couple of races where she didn’t run that good, but that was soft turf so I thought with a little firmer turf she was going to run much better for sure,” Alvarado said.
Breaking from post 10 in the 11-horse field, Alvarado said he hustled Spanish Loveaffair to get position. The early fractions of 24.02 for the quarter, 47.85 for the half-mile left Alvarado some horse with which to finish.
“When we were going that slow I wasn’t in a rush,” Alvarado said. “At that point I was just taking my time and making sure I had enough horse to finish the race and she responded very well.”
Spanish Loveaffair covered the mile in 1:34.13 and returned $63. Spanish Loveaffair is trained by Mark Casse for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber.
Spanish Loveaffair’s victory assured there would be a pick-6 carryover of $74,372 into Thursday’s card.