Paynter’s Breeze Rider kicks off 2022 with third career stakes win

Breeze Rider began her year in style with a front-running victory in Sunday’s $75,000 Jersey Lilly Turf S. at Sam Houston Park.

The 5-year-old daughter of Paynter now has three stakes wins, all coming since Nov. 25. Her record is an excellent 12-3-2 in 26 starts, with earnings of $397,728.

Paynter has gotten off to an excellent start this year as well, with five stakes horses in January, at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/8-miles.

Breeze Rider led the entire 1 1/16-mile trip on Sunday. Lady Gwen applied pressure through a half-mile, which went in :50.26. Breeze Rider edged clear around the final turn, then cut the corner to open up some daylight on the field. She kept to her task in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length.

Breeze Rider is owned by Mike Piazza Racing Stable LLC and was bred in Kentucky by Patrick and Brittney Durtschi. Breeze Rider is out of two-time stakes winner Dancing Raven, who is a half-sister to multiple graded winner and millionaire Uncaptured.