April 25, 2024

Song of Spring blossoms in Allaire duPont Distaff

Song of Spring, with Ricardo Santana, Jr., aboard, wins the Allaire duPont Distaff (G3) at Pimlico on Friday, May 18, 2018 (c) Spencer Tulis/Horsephotos.com

Stoneway Farm’s Song of Spring rallied from last in Friday’s $150,000 Allaire duPont Distaff (G3) at Pimlico and secured a half-length score over even-money favorite Blue Prize on the wire.

With jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard, Song of Spring found herself in the back of the eight-horse field after the gates opened. Up front Blue Prize dueled with Verve’s Tale through fractions of :23.56, :47.52 and 1:12.12 before taking over in the lane.

By that point Song of Spring had begun her run and swung five wide into the lane. She closed fast to collar Blue Prize, who drifted out in midstretch to run even with Song of Spring but couldn’t keep up with her rival and finished second.

Sent off the 9-1 fourth choice, Song of Spring paid $21 for finishing 1 1/8 miles over the sloppy, sealed track in 1:51.10. Blue Prize had 2 1/4 lengths to spare on Fuhriously Kissed in third while In the Navy Now, the 32-1 second longest shot on the board, filled the fourth spot another three lengths behind. Verve’s Tale wound up fifth and was followed under the wire by Power of Snunner, Dorodansa and Katalust.

Song of Spring improved her resume to read 15-4-2-3, $228,643 while earning her first stakes victory in this spot. The Neil Howard-trained daughter of Spring at Last entered the Allaire duPont Distaff off a third-placing in the Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) at Keeneland on April 20.

Bred in Kentucky by Susan Casner, Song of Spring is the first registered foal out of the Bernardini mare Adream. The four-year-old miss counts as her second dam the unraced Unbridled mare Turbo Dream, who produced multiple Grade 1 queen Dream Rush, who in turn foaled Grade 1 heroine Dreaming of Julia.