Aqueduct: Paulassilverlining dominates in Garland of Roses

By Heather Pettinger —-

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Vincent Scuderi’s multiple graded stakes winner Paulassilverlining made easy work of her competition in the Saturday feature at Aqueduct Racetrack, returning from her third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint to post a comfortable 2 ¼-length victory in the $125,000 Garland of Roses and become thoroughbred racing’s newest millionaire.

Paulassilverlining settled in the three-path under Jose Ortiz as Disco Chick and Kelsocait took the field of five through an opening quarter-mile in 23.08 seconds and the half in 46.66. Kelsocait began to fade in the middle of the turn as Paulassilverlining gained ground on Disco Chick. The 4-year-old Ghostzapper filly took control with a three-wide sweep at the top of the stretch and drew clear under the wire.

“She broke great and put me in a terrific position,” said Ortiz. “I had asked her a bit going to the quarter-pole to make sure she passed that horse [Disco Chick] because you never know. I asked and she responded well. She switched leads and kicked on. When she starts going by herself, she starts playing around, so I hit her a couple of times to make her focus. She finished up well, I’m very happy with the race.”

Picking up her sixth stakes victory, Paulassilverlining, who also won the Grade 3 Vagrancy and the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom in 2016, completed six furlongs in 1:11.60.

The winner, sent postward as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite, returned $2.30 for a $2 win wager.

“We talked before the race and Jose said he thought there was a little bit of speed to the inside and he was just going to sit off them and lay close,” said winning trainer Michelle Nevin. “That’s exactly what he did, and once he shook her and asked her to go she went on.”

Boasting an 8-4-3 record from 18 starts, Paulassilverlining broke seven figures in career earnings with the $75,000 winner’s share of the Garland of Roses, amassing a total of $1,008,950 through three seasons of racing.

“I’m very proud of her,” Nevin said of the accomplishment. “How could you not be? She’s been a star from the get go.”

My Savannah Belle finished third, followed by Kelsocait and Callista to complete the order of finish. Black Mission Fig and Old Valyria were scratched.

Cover Photo: Paulassilverlining; Joe Labozzetta Photo