Switch to the turf was golden for Amira’s Prince filly

It only took a switch from the all-weather track to the turf course at Golden Gate Fields for Galileta to break her maiden yesterday in her third try as a 3-year-old.

The filly by Amira’s Prince had posted two mediocre performances on the all-weather before she turned it around with David Lopez taking her wire-to-wire in a $27,350 maiden special at five furlongs on the grass.

Galileta broke on top from the rail and encountered just one brief challenge on the backstretch from a 40-1 shot. She was never threatened the rest of the way after putting up blazing fractions of :21.40 and :45.03, and sailed to the wire four lengths in front. In mid-stretch, when she led by five, announcer Matt Dinerman bellowed, “Nobody is catching Galileta – she surely loved the turf being by that turf router Amira’s Prince.”

The filly bred by Charles and Maritza Weston became her sire’s 10th winner this year from 17 starters for a percentage of 59, best among the top 25 Florida stallions. The victory was worth $15,600, and her final clocking of :57.06 was less than two seconds off the 14-year-old course record.