Printer Friendly Page 

Heavenly Landing touches down in Marshua's River

Heavenly Landing is now perfect in three turf starts following a narrow decision in the Marshua's River (Adam Coglianese Photography) Summerplace Farm's Heavenly Landing made a successful turf stakes debut in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Marshua's River Stakes, rallying from off the pace to edge second choice La Reine Lionne by the slimmest of noses in the 1 1/16-mile event. Guided by Corey Lanerie, who's ridden the five-year-old Pulpit mare to three consecutive victories, Heavenly Landing completed the distance on firm ground in 1:41 3/5. She returned $40.80, $13 and $9.60 after starting at 19-1. Though settled in the second tier of the 12-horse field most of the way, Heavenly Landing was no more than seven lengths off the early pace set by Wallis, who hung up moderate splits of :24 1/5, :48 1/5 and 1:11 4/5. La Reine Lionne and Tapitsfly, who raced in close attendance to the pace, edged forward approaching the stretch and eventually moved past the tiring leader a furlong out. While La Reine Lionne and Tapitsfly battled to the wire in deep stretch, Heavenly Landing had to wait for a path to emerge between rivals in the middle of the course. When she ultimately found it, she closed strongly and was just up to deny La Reine Lionne, with Tapitsfly a head farther back in third in between the top pair. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Aquitaine in fourth.

Finishing fifth in the Marshua's River was 9-5 favorite Daveron, who was followed under the wire by Thundering Emilia, Exclusive Love, Walls, It's Tea Time, Jenny's So Great, Persuading and Louvakhova. Kiss the Stars, Lava Girl, Speak Easy Gal and Trip for A. J. were withdrawn.

The Marshua's River was only the second overall stakes appearance for Heavenly Landing, whose stakes debut resulted in a fifth-place finish in the 2009 Grade 2 Matron Stakes. She placed only twice in seven starts between her maiden score, immediately prior to the Matron, and this past October 21 when she prevailed by a length against allowance foes at Keeneland in her turf debut. She ran her grass record to two-for-two with another allowance triumph at Churchill Downs on November 25, and remained perfect on the surface following this event. Her career mark now stands at 13-4-1-2, $189,384.

"She showed considerable promise breaking her maiden on dirt earlier in her career in what seemed like a key race, but then she didn't achieve what we had hoped for her," trainer Eddie Kenneally said. "With her pedigree top and bottom, we decided to go to turf, but the first time she was entered it came off. Now she'll stay on turf. We'll take it one race at a time from here."

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Heavenly Landing was produced by the Grade 3-placed Peace River Lady. Heavenly Landing is a half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner River Squall, Grade 2-placed stakes winner Scenic Point, and Grade 3-placed stakes winner Eastern Dude. Scenic Point in turn produced the Grade 3 winner Better Now.

More Graded Recaps:

Bradester takes flight in Salvator Mile

Dogwood Trail leads to Azalea winner's circle

Grand Bili captures Carry Back

Big Blue Kitten regains United Nations title

Merry Meadow crowned in Princess Rooney

Send this article to a friend