The rich Apr. 17 card at Charles Town racetrack proved the perfect place for Pinkarella to get the first stakes win in the 4-year-old filly's career with a comfortable victory in the $250K Sugar Maple S. The bay daughter of Malibu Moon equaled the track record of 1:23 1/5 for the seven furlongs, winning by a widening 6 ½-lengths while earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure, a lifetime-best.

The third Saturday in April was a banner day for Spendthrift stallion Malibu Moon, who was represented by two other stakes winners in addition to Pinkarella: Life At Ten won the Grade 3 Sixty Sails H. at Hawthorne and Baltimore Bob took the Harry Clark S. at Pimlico.

In the Sugar Maple, Pinkarella broke a step slow, but put herself in front after a quarter mile and never looked back after that point. Sweet Goodbye, the 4-5 favorite, gave chase for much of the race, but had no response in the stretch.

Pinkarella was bred in Kentucky by B. Wayne Hughes. The victory was worth $150,000 to co-owners Flintridge Stable and STD Racing Stable. She is trained by Doug O'Neill. Pinkarella has won half of her eight lifetime starts, with total earnings of $235,800.

With the trio of stakes winners on the day, Malibu Moon is now ranked first on the North American general sire list by winners, with 54, and fifth in terms of earnings, in excess of $1.9 million