Andina Del Sur Headlines Marshua's River

Nearly two years after recording her only graded stakes victory in the 2018 Florida Oaks (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs, Andina Del Sur aims for her second Jan. 11 in the $150,000 Marshua's River Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.

Though a second graded prize has been elusive—just once has she been on the board in six graded tries since the Florida Oaks—conditions are favorable Saturday. The 5-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway races her most effective distance at 1 1/16 miles, over which she has recorded three of her four victories, and now she catches a field with limited accomplishments for a grade 3.

There are no other graded stakes winners among the six older fillies and mares she faces, and two foes, Piece by Peace and Magic Star, are merely maiden winners. Another, Malkia, steps up from starter optional claiming company.

Andina Del Sur, with $470,750 in earnings from 19 starts, is the richest entrant and the apparent class. With two wins in her past three starts—the Sept. 28 Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park and the Nov. 29 Forever Together Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 29—she is also one of the sharpest and grittiest. Both victories were in photo finishes.

"Especially going into her last race, she really put in a big effort," trainer Tom Albertrani said. "So maybe there's a little bit to say about her getting better with age."

Video: Forever Together S. (BT)

Javier Castellano, aboard for the neck victory in the Forever Together, returns aboard Andina Del Sur, owned and bred by Don Alberto Stable. She carries high weight of 122 pounds, spotting her opposition between 2-4 pounds.

Andina Del Sur has only a small margin for error when her form is stacked up next to that of Sweet Bye and Bye. The latter was third—1 3/4 lengths behind Andina Del Sur—when beaten as the favorite in the Forever Together, but she finished in front of her when she ran second and Andina Del Sur was third in the Oct. 20 Athenia Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park. She was a half-length ahead of her rival that afternoon.

Hung wide in her most recent start, Sweet Bye and Bye could receive a sweet trip in the Marshua's River under Luis Saez as one of two principal speed horses in the race. The other is last-out maiden winner Piece By Peace, leaving Sweet Bye and Bye positioned to set or press easy fractions.

A stakes winner in Pennsylvania-bred company for owner/breeder Joseph Imbesi, the 5-year-old daughter of Sky Mesa  is trained by Steve Klesaris. 

Already with a race on the Gulfstream course this winter is Munchkin Money, a 7-year-old New York-bred daughter of Freud  who ran third in the Dec. 14 My Charmer Stakes behind Mitchell Road and Take These Chains, two mares nominated to the Marshua's River but not entered.

Munchkin Money twice took allowance-level races on the grass at Gulfstream in early 2019.

Though Magic Star has won only a maiden race, and was sixth in a subsequent start in a first-level allowance at Belmont Oct. 26, she commands attention with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Chad Brown in her corner. She won her debut going away at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 24. Like Andina Del Sur, Don Alberto Stable owns her, though they are not coupled in the wagering. 

The Marshua's River is one of two stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday, sharing the 11-race card with the $100,000 Tropical Turf Stakes (G3T), which drew a deeper field of 10.