Peter Brant’s Kentucky-bred Gina Romantica once again demonstrated her fondness for the Keeneland turf with a victory in the $750,000 First Lady Stakes (G1) on Saturday, Oct. 5. It was the second straight year that the daughter of Into Mischief captured the First Lady. It also marked her third G1 win over the Keeneland turf course. To go along with her back-to-back wins in the First Lady, the classy mare also annexed the 2022 QE II Challenge Cup (G1).
Gina Romantica traveled kindly throughout for jockey Jose Ortiz. They stalked the early pace from third along the inside. Ortiz tipped out Gina Romantica on the turn and she kicked into high gear in the stretch. She collared pacesetter Ag Bullet in the lane and withstood a late rally from stablemate Chili Flag (FR) to score by two lengths at the finish. Trained by Chad Brown, she covered the one mile on turf in 1:33.80.
“It was beautiful. She loves it here,” said winning rider Jose Ortiz of the First Lady’s defending champion. “The break was key today. She broke very alert and put me into a great position going into the first turn. I was very happy throughout the backside. And when we hit the quarter pole, there was an opening between two horses, and she exploded.”
Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Carrie and Craig Brogden, Gina Romantica is now a winner in 6-of-16 lifetime starts and has placed in four others. With the $430,125 winner’s share of the purse, Gina Romantica has now amassed a career bankroll of $1,786,228.
Gina Romantica is a 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Special Me. She was purchased by BSW/Crow for $1,025,000 out of the 2020 Keeneland September Sale where she was consigned by Machmer Hall.