Tony the Tiger would call her: ‘Greaaat’

Orlyana Farm was the recipient of the ultimate owner/breeder break when two scratches cut the original field of six to four in the $70,000 Portofino Bay Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Great Venezuela, Neolithic’s second-leading money-winner, went off at 8/5 with Leonel Reyes in the race at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta surface, and she didn’t disappoint. The 4-year-old filly who has – amazingly – never finished worse than third, stalked the early pace, then out-gamed 2/5 favorite Mrs. Gambolini to the wire to win by one length. She was clocked in 1:02.38, less than four-fifths of a second off the track record.

Great Venezuela received an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 102, best of her fabulous 13-race career, during which she has achieved an 8-3-2 record, all at Gulfstream. The $41,500 winner’s check lifted her lifetime total to $335,120; the eight victories are best of all Neolithic’s runners.