Captiva Island ($115.000 Purse)
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Five Furlongs on the Turf
March 15, 2025

Sometimes, when you look at a race and expect a showdown between two horses, that’s how the race actually plays out. Then, on likely more occasions, the race will have another horse completely steal the show. That was the case in the Captiva Island on Saturday as Macka Diamond made this race about her and won by a length. She was not necessarily a surprise victor and has been strong when running in turf sprints recently. We can expect that trend to continue as she wins for the third time in four starts, and two of those wins are ungraded stakes here at GP. The filly is trained by Nakamura Stables and had J Bravo aboard. For each, it is their first win in the Captiva Island. Congratulations to them! The winning race time was :56.52, the third fastest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it now:

(½ Mile- :22.20)- Five of them will vie for the early lead, and the persistence of the Mb Stables- trained Miss Fury to be that leader will pay off just in time for the run around the turn, as she is ultimately able to move to the rail. Did she extend too much energy in that? Behind her, the other four will be content to stalk the pace, with Avenue Z’s Forsythia In White leading by a neck over Maxmillion Farm’s Lucky Star, who is to her outside. On the rail, Sweet T is right there for Spb Racing, and right beside her is our eventual winner from Nakamura Stables, Macka Diamond. For now, she runs in the second lane as they work around the turn. It’s two lengths back to Neon Star (Night Mare Racing), and the trailer is Tipsy Tipsy (Angelos Stable).

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Miss Fury holds her lead while rounding the turn, but entering the stretch, she looked highly vulnerable to the group that had been stalking her. Making gradual process in the outside lines would be Forysthia In White and Lucky Star, with Macka Diamond looking to squeeze through between Miss Fury and Forsythia In White. Sweet T had no excuses here with plenty of room on the rail but was lacking response. Tipsy Tipsy would pass Neon Star a little further back and would now look to work through the rest of the traffic.

(Finish- :56.52)- Early in the stretch, it was quite evident that Macka Diamond was not only going to make quick work of Miss Fury but also would be able to put both Forsythia In White and Lucky Star away easily as well. Tipsy Tipsy was advancing well and had a lane to take advantage of. Approaching the wire, Macka Diamond was in good shape, and while Tipsy Tipsy was running well, Macka Diamond was never really threatened by her for the race win as she goes on to win by a length. Tipsy Tipsy will complete the exacta by getting the headbob on Lucky Star at the wire. Miss Fury was a disappointing fourth, with Forsythia In White, Sweet T, and Neon Star rounding it out.

About The Winner- Macka Diamond, trained by Nakamura Stables and ridden by J Bravo, is a four-year-old filly by Mr Boombastic and is out the late Bashment. She was bred by Night Rider Stables in Kentucky as a first quarter two-year-old and was acquired by Nakamura Stables while she was still unraced in the March 2023 auction for $25.010. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 12 starts, and her second stake victory. Her career earnings are now $269.140.

Track: Firm
Time: :22¹  :45  :56²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 7 Paid 185.40
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 7 – 5 Paid 726.30

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded