Bsharpsonata strikes a winning note in Forward Gal

Cloverleaf Farm II's homebred BSHARPSONATA (Pulpit) got on even terms with pacesetter Keep the Peace (Touch Gold) at the top of the lane and got the best of a stretch-long duel with that one to capture the $150,000 Forward Gal S. (G2) by a nose over the sloppy, sealed track at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The Timothy Salzman splashed her way through seven furlongs in 1:23 to capture her first graded event under regular rider Eric Camacho. The 5-1 third choice paid $12.40, $4.20 and $2.20.

Keep the Peace, the even-money favorite, took the lead soon after the start and established splits of :21 4/5 and :44 1/5 for the opening half-mile. Approaching the final turn, the leader was kept off the rail and Bsharpsonata snuck through on the inside to set the stage for the thrilling final furlong. Keep the Peace was 3 1/4 lengths clear of third, paying $3 and $2.20 while completing the $18.80 exacta ($1) in the process.

Melissa Jo (Fusaichi Pegasus) pressed the pace early and could not match strides with the top pair late, but did well to retain the show while 6 1/2 lengths clear of fourth. The 2-1 second choice was worth $2.40 while finishing off the $46.50 trifecta ($1). Morakami (Fusaichi Pegasus) concluded the $128.70 superfecta ($1) (3-1-5-7) at nearly 7-1 and was trailed by Cozy Mesa (Sky Mesa), Sensational Love (War Chant) and Cape Cod Lady (Yonaguska).

Bsharpsonata improved her bankroll to $283,410 from an 8-5-0-0 record. The bay earned her fourth career stakes race, and third in succession, following wins in the Selima S. and Tropical Parks Oaks on the grass. The bay captured her debut at Delaware and earned her first stakes win over that same oval in a seven-length romp in the Irish Sonnet S. The Florida-bred was an excellent fourth in the Epitome Breeders' Cup S. on Breeders' Cup Friday.

The winner is out of stakes-winning Apasionata Sonata (Affirmed) and is a half-sister to an unnamed two-year-old Giant's Causeway colt and an unnamed yearling colt by Smarty Jones.