Gelfenstein Farm’s Dearest took command at the top of the stretch and cruised to a sharp one-and-a-half-length victory in the listed Azalea Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The race was one of nine Stakes contests that were held as a part of the lucrative $1.125-million Summit of Speed program.
Sent off as the heavy favorite in the field of six three-year-old fillies, the daughter of Midshipman stalked the leader from second for most of the race before sweeping past the leader on the far turn and drawing off for the victory. Dearest entered the Azalea off a five-length score in last month’s Royal Palm Stakes over the same course. The chestnut filly has now won four of five lifetime starts.
Dearest was bred in Kentucky by Daniel J. Burke and Kathleen Schweizer, and is out of Keowee Clai, a winning daughter of champion Cherokee Run. Dearest hails from the immediate female family of Sand Ridge, winner of the Iowa Sprint Handicap, and Stopshoppingmaria, who won the Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes and was second in the G1 Frizette.
Among Midshipman’s top runners are multiple Stakes winner and G1-placed Lady Shipman, San Pedro Stakes winner Yiannis, Riskaverse Stakes winner Stormy Regatta, and Happy Ticket Stakes winner Naval Command.
