US Grade Three Winner for Footsteps

Irish bred mare Sandiva (5m Footstepsinthesand x Miss Corinne, by Mark of Esteem) posted another feature race win when capturing the $150,000 Grade III Marshua’s River Stakes at Gulfstream for Al Shaqab Racing. A quality mare with Graded wins in the UK, France and the US already on her resume, the Todd Pletcher trained Sandiva took the 1 and 1/16th mile contest on turf by a length and a half after defying her usual pattern of racing to lead. “I didn’t expect to be on the lead but the way she did it she was very sharp today,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “I was very impressed with the way she did it because she had never been on the lead. I didn’t expect to be close to the pace behind the horses. The way I handicapped the other two horses had the speed and she showed it today. The filly was training so well and Todd Pletcher put the horse where she belonged. He told me don’t take it away if it comes easy. If you find yourself on the lead, go ahead. I think she was much the best today.” With the overall record of seven wins from 18 starts with prizemoney topping $560,000, Sandiva is a half-sister to stakes-winner Wentworth from Miss Corinne.