Munnys Gold Dominates in Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies Sets Track Record in Spectacular Form

BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Sent off as the odds-on favorite at 2-5, Munnys Gold did not disappoint as she trounced seven rivals in the $100,000 Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies for Florida-bred 3-year-old fillies. Winning by 17 ¼ lengths in a track record time of 1:20.09 for sev- out a notch on Munnys Gold and edged away while racing on the rail after finishing the half-mile in :44.30.

As she came out of the turn, Munnys Gold straightened away into the stretch where she launched away from her competition to take a six-length advantage in midstretch before finishing off her record-breaking performance. Dreaming of Snow finished second, a neck ahead of Awesome Pic in third. Dream Concert, Sherlyn Go Go, Pretty’n Awesome, Lynx and Jackie’s Spirit completed the order of the finish.

Munnys Gold paid $2.80 to win.

“She took a step forward from her last race,” Ortiz said of her Jan. 25 allowance victory at Gulfstream. “I wanted to feel what she had early and I felt she was able to relax. When I asked her for some speed, she just took off. She was very impressive in the stretch. Hopefully she stays solid because she has a lot of talent.” en furlongs, Munnys Gold eclipsed the old mark of 1:20.89 set by Florida-bred Win Win Win in the 2019 Pasco.

Pletcher was also impressed and said Churchill Downs may be next for Munnys Gold.

“That was a pretty impressive performance. She’s handled each step up in class and each increase in distance without any problem,” he said. “You don’t see horses do what she’s done very often. She broke her maiden going five furlongs by 15 lengths and she won by even more today, so this is very exciting.

The Sophomore Fillies is one of six stakes on the 20th Florida Cup Card at Tampa Downs with each stake offering a purse of $100,000 plus a $10,000 bonus provided by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association if the winner is eligible for the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert and Lawana Low, Munnys Gold and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat just to the inside of Pretty’n Awesome through the first quarter in :21.79 as Dream Concert raced in third another length-and-a-half back. Pretty’n Awesome and Munnys Gold continued together into the far turn as Pretty’n Awesome tried to get the advantage with five-sixteenth to run when Ortiz let

“We’ll see how she comes out of it and maybe take a look at the Eight Belles at Churchill Downs going seven furlongs on [Longines Kentucky] Oaks Day. Hopefully, she’ll keep stepping up.

“I didn’t see too many other races there today so I don’t know if the track is really fast or not, but regardless, that’s a crazy fast time on any surface.”

Munnys Gold is now undefeated in three career starts and she increased her career revenue to $126,900.

Bred in Florida by Nicksar Farms, Munnys Gold is by Munnings out of Haraawa, by Medaglia d’Oro and the Sophomore Fillies is added to her victories against special weight maidens going five furlongs at Monmouth Park in June and versus first condition allowance fillies over six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 23.