Cornelia Hartsmar Records First North American Win Aboard Lady River Lily

Cornelia Hartsmar, a 26-year-old native of Sweden, recorded her first North American win at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 19, guiding Douglas J. Seyler’s Lady River Lily to victory in Race 8 by three quarters of a length. The claiming race went off at 3:56 p.m. on the turf and the winner was credited with a front-running effort that held gamely in deep stretch.

Equibase lists the race as seven-and-one-half furlongs on firm turf with a winning time of 1:28.65 and a purse of $31,000. Gulfstream’s payout table showed Lady River Lily paid $21.20 to win, $11.60 to place and $8.00 to show. A republished FTBOA release described the race as a seven-furlong, $17,500 claiming race; that phrasing conflicts with the Equibase/Gulfstream chart and is presented as an alternate reported figure.

The official order of finish showed #8 Lady River Lily first, #3 Pretty Shy with Jorge Ruiz second, and #4 Acheron ridden by Joe Bravo third. Also listed in the chart were #10 Bonmati, #2 Giddy Up Baby, #6 Frosted Kisses, #9 Ave Fenix, #1 My Sweet Adaline, #5 Shedoo Kitten and #7 My Blessing. Also-eligible scratches included Bembridge Ledge and Orquidea Real. Wager payoffs on the race card included a $1 Exacta (8-3) at $113.20, a $0.50 Trifecta (8-3-4) at $191.15, and a $0.10 Superfecta (8-3-4-10) at $177.99; the $1 Pick 3 returned $353.70 and the $1 Daily Double (5-8) returned $79.00.

Hartsmar arrived in South Florida after riding at Saratoga in July and August and plans to continue riding in North America for the foreseeable future. Multiple sources recorded that she had ridden 101 winners campaigning in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and France prior to Gulfstream; after the victory she said, “This is 102.” She added, “I feel amazing. I feel like I just won the Derby,” and noted, “I love this horse. I rode her at Saratoga. Ever since then, she’s just 100 percent every time.” FTBOA copy also stated this was her first North American win “on her 26th mount.”

Lady River Lily is owned and trained by Douglas J. Seyler and was bred by A. Clare Silva. FTBOA noted the mare had won one of her previous 18 starts prior to the Gulfstream score. The win advances Seyler’s owner-trainer stable and hands Hartsmar a career milestone as she integrates an established European resume into American racing; confirmation of the official distance and purse is reflected in the Equibase chart and Gulfstream payout table. Photo credit for coverage: ©Ryan Thompson.