Heider Family Stables' Zofelle returned from a seven-month layoff Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, where she kicked it into gear down the home stretch to notch her first graded victory in the $125,000 Marshua's River Stakes (G3T).
The 5-year-old Zoffany mare was second, beaten less than a length, over the same course and mile distance last March in the Sand Springs Stakes for trainer Brendan Walsh. She then earned a graded placing when a close third in the May 30 Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs. Her last race before the Marshua's River came June 27, when she ran a tired fifth in the Just a Game Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park.
"She had a very good year last year," Walsh said. "We gave her a break. She came back from the break and she had been working really, really good. Came to hand really fast, had been working well for this, so it was nice to see her do what she did there."
Off Saturday as the 5-2 favorite under Tyler Gaffalione, Zofelle raced in seventh early in the field of 10 older fillies and mares. Up front Our Bay B Ruth set fractions of :23.18 and :46.12 through a half-mile. Vigilantes Way, winner of the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Oaks at Gulfstream, stalked in second before taking over to run three-quarters in 1:09.36. Sweet Bye and Bye raced in third.
Zofelle had gained a position at the quarter pole and was 2 3/4 lengths off the pace. Moved out three wide by Gaffalione, she was set down for the drive and began to pick off her rivals. Our Bay B Ruth had faded from the picture and Vigilantes Way relinquished her lead as Zofelle caught up to the front. Though Sweet Bye and Bye tried to fight, Zofelle continued past and crossed the wire two lengths in front.
The final time on firm turf was 1:32.42. The winner paid $7.60.
Sweet Bye and Bye held off Belle Laura by three-quarters of a length to finish second. Tuned came from last for fourth, followed by Vigilantes Way, Evil Lyn, Niko's Dream, Great Sister Diane, Our Bay B Ruth, and Lovely La La.
Bred in Ireland by Fullbury and Minch Bloodstock, Zofelle is the first foal out of the Galileo mare Height of Elegance. Her dam has had three winners from three to race, and in 2020 produced a Caravaggio colt. Originally campaigned in England, Zofelle was purchased by Stephen Hillen Bloodstock for 27,000 guineas (U$35,330) from The Castlebridge Consignment at the 2019 Tattersalls July Sale. She made her first two stateside starts for Rebecca Hillen, with Walsh as trainer, in allowance company and won both races, then added a third straight win for Heider Family Stables in the 2019 Pago Hop Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. She has collected a 5-2-2 record from 15 starts and has earned $228,544.
"I rode her in her first start in America and she settled real well that day and gave a really serious run down the stretch," Gaffalione said. "I was trying to do the same thing. Coming off the layoff, I didn't want to rush her. I just let her settle and she picked up her feet as she went and she finished up nicely."
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 23, 2021, Race 7Entries: Marshua's River S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Belle Laura (KY) Hector Isaac Berrios 120 Juan Carlos Avila 12/1 2 2Our Bay B Ruth (KY) Luis Saez 118 Eddie Kenneally 10/1 3 3Zofelle (IRE) Tyler Gaffalione 118 Brendan P. Walsh 5/1 4 4Vigilantes Way (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 120 Claude R. McGaughey III 7/2 5 5Great Sister Diane (KY) Luca Panici 118 Rohan Crichton 30/1 6 6Evil Lyn (KY) Flavien Prat 120 Michael J. Maker 9/2 7 7Lovely La La (NY) Edgard J. Zayas 118 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 20/1 8 8Tuned (GB) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 H. Graham Motion 8/1 9 9Niko's Dream (NY) Junior Alvarado 120 Barclay Tagg 6/1 10 10Sweet Bye and Bye (PA) Jose L. Ortiz 118 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 4/1
