Sweet Melania comes back running in Wonder Again Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y - Sweet Melania, idle since her third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf nearly eight months earlier, made a triumphant 3-year-old debut when leading throughout to register a 1 1/2-length victory over Highland Glory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Wonder Again on Saturday at Belmont Park.

With regular rider Jose Ortiz aboard, Sweet Melania was quick to assume command in a Wonder Again field lacking much other real speed. Sweet Melania was nursed along on the lead, posting splits of 24.15, 47.62 and 1:10.99 over the firm course while pressed through the opening six furlongs by Antoinette. Ortiz set Sweet Melania down entering the stretch, and the American Pharoah filly quickly spurted well clear.

Highland Glory, racing with a run-out blinker for the first time, was kept within striking distance while between horses early, swung out for the drive, and finished with good energy to prove second best, a half-length better than Antoinette, who was third. Spektomeofsummr and Selflessly completed the order of finish.

Owned by Robert and Lawana Low and trained by Todd Pletcher, Sweet Melania completed a mile in 1:34.23 under Jose Ortiz. She paid $4.60.

“Analyzing the race beforehand, it looked like she had a pace advantage,” said Pletcher. “We weren’t going to put her on the lead, we just felt she would naturally get herself there. Jose rationed it out and she responded well.”

In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Sweet Melania held a clear lead through midstretch before faltering gradually to finish 1 ½ lengths behind the winner, Sharing. She had become a graded stakes winner four weeks before that in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland.

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Pletcher said the coronavirus pandemic was partially responsible for Sweet Melania waiting until mid-June to launch her 3-year-old season.

“We planned to give her time off after the Breeders’ Cup, then things went crazy for a while and we really didn’t know where we were going to come back,” said Pletcher. “We knew a distance like a mile was what we were looking for, and when this race came out we have kind of pointed for it since then.”

Pletcher said he was uncertain what might be next for Sweet Melania, although he does plan to stretch her out further this summer.

“I haven’t really looking over the stakes schedule, yet but I’m sure there will be some options for her at Saratoga,” Pletcher said. “I’m not sure she wants a mile and one-quarter, but I think she’s classy enough she can get up to a mile and one-eighth.”