Team Galiana, including breeder John T. Behrendt (blue suit), celebrate a third Tax Free Shopping Distaff victory (photo: Hoofprints, Inc.)
by Sarah Mace
Triple R Stable’s Galiana, a five-year-old daughter of New York sire Stonesider (Saratoga Stud, LLC), continued her reign over the Delaware Park main track on Saturday’s Owners Day program when she recorded a third straight victory in the $75,000 Tax Free Shopping Distaff, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares. The apparently effortless score drove her Delaware record to an astonishing nine wins from ten starts.
Bet down to 1-5 for the “three-peat” and partnered with jockey Carol Cedeno, who rode the mare to a repeat victory last out in the $50,000 Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware on July 11, the Rodolfo Romero-trainee broke well from her outside post of six, and traveled just off the pace, while Outwithbigdaddy and Monaguska hooked up to lead the field through a first quarter-mile in 21.93.
Edging up three wide late along the backstretch run, Galiana gained the lead midway around the far turn and wasted no time in drawing clear, opening up at will in the stretch on her way to a 5 3/4-length victory. After completing a half-mile in 45.57, she stopped the clock at 1:10.34 after six furlongs. One Fast Chick closed from third into the runner-up spot, while Charm city came from off the pace to gain third.
Galiana has now won 15 of 28 career starts, including 11 tilts at six furlongs, and earned $616,621. In addition to her Delaware stakes victories – back-to-back editions of the Dashing Beauty Stakes in 2014 and 2015, the Sweet and Sassy Stakes in 2014, and consecutive three scores in the Tax Free Shopping Distaff, Galiana won the Primonetta and Skipat Stakes in back-to-back starts at Pimlico this year.
Bred by John T. Behrendt and Charles Marquis and foaled at Anne Morgan and Tim Little’s Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, Galiana is out of Baby Jess, an unraced Argentinian-bred daughter of Interprete (ARG). A full sister to Galiana has won in Argentina.
