Musical Romance, a winner in September of the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (Gr. II), pressed the early pace of Golden Mastery early in the Filly and Mare Sprint, dropped back a little on the far turn, and bulled her way through a narrow opening in the turn before coming running in the stretch. She took over in midstretch and easily held off the late charge of Switch to cross the wire 1 1/4 lengths in front in 1:23.47 for the seven furlongs at odds of $20.20-to-1.
Kaplan owns 50 percent of Musical Romance, who had to be
supplemented for $130,000 to the 2011 Breeders’ Cup. “That’s probably
not the greatest fiscal decision, because she has to run second to get
that back,” he said prior to the event. “But she’s in the best form of her career.
Actually, it’s amazing how well she’s carried that form since she went
back to sprinting. She’s an extremely manageable horse, and she and her
jockey Juan Leyva really get along. He’s given her eight great trips.
They really seem to have a lot of confidence in each other. I think
she’ll give an outstanding effort. I don’t know if it’s enough at this
level, but I know she’ll give it everything she’s got. She always does.”Kaplan has had two previous Breeders' Cup starters: Fortune Pending, winner of the My Girl division of the Florida Stallion Stakes and Seacliff, winner of all three legs of the Florida Stallion Stakes. Both finished 10th in their respective Juvenile divisions in 1994 and 1995.
Kaplan says co-owner of Musical Romance Adam Lazarus, who founded Pinnacle Racing, is an unique managing partner. “He has some members that own as little as half a percent, but they get all the benefits as a primary owner,” he said. “I don’t think he even charges a management fee, and he does all the billing, taxes and such himself. He’s brought a lot of people into the business, and they’re having a lot of success. He wants everyone to have as much fun as he’s having.”
