Gemologist’s 2-year-old filly Rose to Fame backed up a game maiden win a month ago with another gutsy performance in Saturday’s $100,000 Brave Raj S. at Gulfstream Park, winning by a neck over Diamonds R Trump.
Rose to Fame is the fifth stakes horse this year for Gemologist, who is a top-10 Second-Crop Sire by progeny earnings and winners.
Saturday’s 5 1/2-furlong contest was a stern test for the chestnut filly. She was three wide vying for the lead on the backstretch, then lost some ground as the field made its way around the turn. Once they straightened for the stretch drive, Rose to Fame remounted a rally, but it wasn’t until very deep stretch that she struck the front to secure the win.
“This is a good filly. I think [Diamonds R Trump] is a very nice horse,” winning trainer Antonio Sano said. “I think what this filly needs is more distance. She won, but the jockey needed to really ride her. She’s a big filly and she has a long stride.”
Rose to Fame has won both of her starts and has now earned $85,380 for Sano Racing Stables. She was bred in Kentucky by Lisa Reynolds and Jennifer Feiner. Rose to Fame’s dam Dazzler has three winners to date, including the multiple graded stakes-placed colt Dazzling Gem.
