HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - After going six starts and nearly 18 months without a victory since capturing the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont Park in spring 2020, Sweet Melania got back on the winning track Saturday at Gulfstream Park after holding off Shifty She to register a half-length victory in the $100,000 Suwannee River Stakes. With John Velazquez aboard, Sweet Melania attended the early pace of Shifty She, engaged and overtook Shifty She in early stretch then held sway under vigorous handling to the end. Shifty She, wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at Belmont Park in her previous start, quickly sped well clear, dug in gamely when displaced on the lead by Sweet Melania upon settling into the stretch, but was not good enough.  In a Hurry raced in perfect striking position but lacked the necessary closing response, finishing third in a full field of a dozen filly and mare turf specialists who contested the Grade 3 fixture over a firm course. Sweet Melania, who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to conclude her 2-year-old campaign, entered the Suwannee River off two second-place finishes in Kentucky. A daughter of American Pharoah, Sweet Melania is trained by Todd Pletcher for owners Robert and Lawana Low. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks. The original final time of the Suwannee River Stakes was adjusted to 1:34.19 seconds. Sweet Melania rewarded her backers with a generous $15.60 payoff. “She was super sharp, I loved the way she was training coming into this race and felt like she was rounding back to form,” said Pletcher, who was not in attendance for the race. “She got a beautiful ride and ran a great race. We’ll probably take a look at the Pegasus Filly and Mare Turf (January 29) off this race.” Dance d’Oro made her stakes debut a winning one, leading all the way to post a two-length victory over Don’t Get Khozy in the $100,000 Rampart Stakes. Allworthy finished a tiring third as the 8-5 favorite. Dance d’Oro broke alertly and went right to the front while saving ground under jockey Emisael Jaramillo. The 4-year-old Whisper Hill Farm homebred shook clear from Gran Baby before six furlongs and was never seriously threatened thereafter.  Allworthy raced forwardly placed, but was done after seven furlongs, tiring to finish another 2 1/4 lengths farther back in third. Dream Marie was in the process of being pulled up when unseating her rider near midstretch, pulling up in some distress, and was vanned off. Dance d’Oro, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, is trained by Ralph Nicks for owner-breeder Whisper Hill Farm. The win was her fourth in 10 career starts. She covered the distance in 1:35.92 over a fast track and paid $6.80. “Her first race back was amazing, and maybe she bounced a little bit (in her last start) because she ran so hard,” Nicks said. “Today was another huge effort.” Dance d’Oro came off a three-month layoff to post a 9 1/4-length allowance victory before regressing to finish third as the 8-5 favorite in an overnight handicap here eight weeks later. “It has to be maturity,” Nicks said of the filly’s improvement. “She’s always had talent, but it was hit and miss. She’s getting little more consistent.”