Any doubts about whether Andrea could carry her speed for a mile were erased when the undefeated and still untested 2-year-old filly dominated Saturday’s $100,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park by 7 3/4 lengths over Whatintheliteral, who came into the race as the only stakes winner in the field.
Andrea, a daughter of Thousand Words trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., won her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs in impressive fashion, leading at every call before checking home 6 1/2 lengths the best while running to her 8-5 backing. The 74 Beyer Speed Figure she earned for her maiden win was easily the highest posted by any of her nine rivals in the Hallandale Beach, including Whatintheliteral, upset winner of the Astoria Stakes in June at Saratoga.
With regular rider Emisael Jaramillo aboard, Andrea wasted little time sticking her head in front while prompted for the early lead in the run down the backstretch by the 80-1 Kip the Distance. Under a snug hold from the outset, Andrea shook clear before completing the opening half-mile, settled into the stretch with a commanding advantage, and was never threatened thereafter while kept to a steady drive for much of the final quarter-mile.
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Whatintheliteral lost her rider when stumbling at the break in the Schuylerville and finished a distant seventh in the Grade 3 Adirondack in her two starts since registering a game head decision in the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria on June 6. She saved ground from the outset making her local debut in the Hallandale Beach before rallying mildly along the rail to easily best the others. Kip the Distance was a tiring third.
Andrea is owned in partnership by C2 Racing, Kuehne Racing and Mark Corrado. She covered the distance over a track upgraded to “good” earlier in the afternoon in 1:38.83 seconds and paid $3.20.
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