Into Mischief’s Gina Romantica repeats in Keeneland’s G1 First Lady
October 5, 2024
Gina Romantica won the $750,000 First Lady S. (G1) Saturday at Keeneland to give the 5-year-old daughter to Into Mischief her second straight win in the one-mile turf race.
Into Mischief would add a second Grade 1 winner of the day to his 2024 skein when Citizen Bull scored in the American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita. The 5-time champion sire now has five Grade 1 winners on the year, and with more than $29 million in progeny earnings, is nearly $13 million above any other North American stallion.
Gina Romantica got an ideal stalking trip Saturday, sitting just behind the pacesetter Ag Bullet for the first six furlongs. When called on at the top of the stretch, she rallied past Ag Bullet then finished up with plenty of run to stop the timer in 1:33.80 on the firm turf.
“It was beautiful. She loves it here,” winning rider Jose Ortiz commented. “The break was key today. She broke very alert and put me into a great position going into the first turn. I was very happy throughout the backside, and when we hit the quarter pole, there was an opening between two horses and she exploded.”
Gina Romantica, owned by Peter Brant, is now 6-3-1 in 16 starts and has earned $1,786,228. The bay distaffer was bred by Machmer Hall and Carrie & Craig Brogden.
Special Me is the dam of Gina Romantica’s 2-year-old full brother Jousting, a $1.2-million KEESEP yearling purchase by M.V. Magnier. She was most recently bred back to Into Mischief.