Galileo’s Affair nears $200,000, gives trainer his first career victory

Galileo’s Affair, Treasure Beach’s leading race-winner, added to her victory total at Parx Racing with an overwhelming performance yesterday, at the same time missing by a whisker of becoming her sire’s second $200,000 earner.

The 5-year-old mare bred by Joe and Kris Carroll won for the ninth time, and her $9,000 check increased her career total to $199,060 in her quest to reach the next earnings level ahead of Raymundo’s Secret, Decorated Ace and Tigerbeach.

Jermaine Burke was aboard Galileo’s Affair as she made it a milestone afternoon for trainer Haleem Lee, who registered his initial victory as a trainer with just his second starter. Unfortunately, he won’t have a chance to repeat with her as Galileo’s Affair was claimed out of the race.

Off slowly from the No. 10 post in the mile and one-sixteenth race, Galileo’s Affair was a good 10 lengths out of it heading down the backstretch when Burke put her in overdrive nearing the final turn. She closed to within five lengths of the leaders at the top of the stretch, then quickly buried them en route to an 8 1/4-length score. The $37,000 OBS April 2-year-old now sports a record of 9-6-7 in 36 starts.