Veteran Pino gets a fantasy score with Amira’s Prince filly

Mario Pino has ridden with great success for some 42 years around Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania, but he may never have had an easier score than with Our Fantasy at Gulfstream Park yesterday.

Breaking from the No. 11 post in the one-mile race over the main track, the daughter of Amira’s Prince broke nicely, and Pino moved her to the rail just behind mid-pack. Heading down the backstretch, the 3-year-old filly began picking off rivals one by one without much effort, then sliced between horses twice on the turn and into the stretch. From there she literally ran over the two remaining leaders and coasted to the wire with announcer Pete Aiello calling her, “a wrapped-up six-length winner.”

Our Fantasy became winner No. 6 this year for Amira’s Prince, and she was breaking her maiden in her eighth try. She paid $9.40, while boosting her earnings to $46,850. A $50,000 OBS April 2-year-old, she gave Joe and Helen Barbazon two breeders’ awards at Gulfstream in the span of two days.