News

Spirit Wind Wins Second Stakes; Bahamian Squall Nears $500,000

    Not to be outdone by stablemate First Dude, Bahamian Squall has also added a pair of important winners on Preakness weekend, Bahamian Dude breaking his maiden at Woodbine on Friday and highly-promising Spirit Wind extending her winning streak to three with a smart victory on Saturday in the $65,000 Musical Romance Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

    Bahamian Dude went wire-to-wire under Olaf Hernandez racing five furlongs over the all-weather track in Canada for his first victory in five starts. As the 4-year-old fought off 2-1 second choice Twice As Smart in the stretch, announcer Robert Geller chimed in with “Bahamian Dude . . . solid as a rock on the inside.” 

    The gelding bred by Donald Dizney went on to score by three-quarters of a length in :58.95, paid $12.20 and earned a check for $11,440 in Canadian funds – $$8,890 American. He became winner No. 11 for Bahamian Squall this year.

    On Saturday, red-hot Spirit Wind made it three in a row in 2022 with an uncontested five-length victory under Leonel Reyes, her second in succession in a stakes. The 3-year-old filly owned and bred by Jacks or Better Farm finished second in her debut in May of last year, then sat out for nine months, returning with a 15 1/2-length maiden-breaker at Gulfstream  on Feb. 18. She came back on March 19 and won the $100,000 Any Limit Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths, so her three victories have come by a combined 23 lengths. 

    In the Musical Romance, she stalked favorite R Adios Jersey in second through fractions of :22.49 and :45.02, drew alongside the even-money choice on the turn and easily put her away in early stretch as Pete Aiello bellowed, “This is a new dimension for Spirit Wind . . . . . . a talented daughter of Bahamian Squall.” 

    Spirit Wind received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 94 while earning a check for $37,830, raising her total for four races to $139,890. She was clocked in 1:16.34, paid $9.60 and boosted Bahamian Squall’s progeny earnings this year to $499,849, seventh best among active Florida sires.