Sweet Dani Girl made a triumphant 2023 debut Saturday at Gulfstream Park with a one-length victory in the $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf S.

The newly-turned 4-year-old daughter of Jess’s Dream won Keeneland’s Myrtlewood S. as a 2-year-old and is now 3-0-1 in six starts, while earning $209,565.

Sweet Dani Girl, whose previous start came in the Eight Belles S. (G2) last May, popped quickly out of the gate and took the lead going into the first turn. She led the field through a half-mile in :48.84. Sugar Fix rallied on the turn and took a short lead coming into the stretch, but Sweet Dani Girl dug in gamely to fend off the challenge and was pulling clear at the finish.

"I had a very good trip," jockey Joel Rosario said. "She broke sharp and it looked like we were going to be on the lead but the outside horse (Crystal Coast) had some speed. My filly was there and she was able to keep coming at the end. She was digging in there at the end and getting better."

The winner is owned and was bred by J&J Stables and Nicholas Vaccarezza.

In addition to siring the winner, on Saturday Jess’s Dream also accounted for Beth’s Dream, who placed in the Wayward Lass S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Jess’s Dream, who stands for $3,000 in 2023, finished 2022 as the top-ranked Third-Crop sire in Florida with over $2.5 million in progeny earnings.