Eskendereya’s newly-turned 3-year-old Isabella Sings gave a virtuoso performance in her 2015 debut, wiring a strong allowance field at Gulfstream in a swift 1:35.33.
The Grade 2-placed filly became the 13th winner already this year for Eskendereya, who ranks second among all sophomore sires by number of 2015 winners, and fourth overall by earnings.
Isabella Sings was making her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) last October 31st. Heavily-favored at 50 cents on the dollar, she shot out of the gate from post eight, rushed to the rail, and had the lead by the opening quarter. Full of run down the backside, she opened up a daylight lead through fractions of :24.54 and :48.29 under John Velazquez. Isabella Sings was seriously challenged throughout the stretch run, but she was tough and game, and was pulling away at the wire, with an excellent final time of 1:35 1/5 over the lawn.
Final margin of victory was 3/4 of a length. Isabella Sings has now compiled a record of 4-2-1-0 and $106,260, including a runner-up effort in the $200,000 Natalma S. (G2) as a two-year-old, and a maiden special victory at Belmont in 1:08.94. Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Siena Farms, she is trained by Todd Pletcher.
A Grade 1 winner by Giant’s Causeway and the most dominant 3-year-old of his generation, Eskendereya is standing the 2015 season for $17,500 live foal.