Mendelssohn Filly Impressive in Gulfstream Debut

The well-bred Fay’s Rhonda Cares (2f Mendelssohn x Vulcan Rose, by Fusaichi Pegasus) was an impressive winner for owner-trainer Steven Dwoskin with a 5 ¼ length debut victory.

Racing in a Gulfstream Park Maiden Special Weight, the filly was never far behind the leader as she raced around the track in third throughout the 5 ½ furlong race on the All Weather Track. Entering the stretch a few paths wide, she used that clear ground to take over going into the final furlong and quickly pulled away from there.

In the end, she had 5 ¼ lengths on the runner-up with the third place finisher 8 ½ lengths behind Fay’s Rhonda Cares.

Bred by Phoenix Rising Farms, she is out of the winning Vulcan Rose. That mare also produced Scat Daddy’s multiple graded stakes winner Flameaway, stakes winner Ellan Vannin, and stakes placed Seguimi.

The filly’s third dam is the great broodmare Flame of Tara, whose foals included Group I Irish Derby winner Salsabil and Group I winner Marju. Many of Flame of Tara’s descendants went on to produce stakes winners with the group including Uncle Mo’s Grade II winning Harvest Moon.

Vulcan Rose foaled a Justify colt last year, who recently sold for $275,000 in Saratoga.