Alani earned her first stakes victory in style Saturday at Colonial Downs, turning back all challengers to capture the $100,000 Love Sign Stakes for fillies and mares with a determined front-running effort.

Ridden by Andy Hernandez and trained by Michael Moore, Alani broke sharply from post 6 and dueled inside for the early lead before asserting herself around the turn. The 4-year-old daughter of Competitive Edge opened up by the top of the stretch and held firm under pressure to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:09.25 for six furlongs over a fast track.

“She is a classy filly,” Hernandez said. “She can run on the lead and behind horses. Today she broke sharp, near the lead, and I put her into the race. She finished very strong.”

It was a well-earned reward for a filly who had finished second to $600,000 earner St. Benedicts Prep in the Alma North at Laurel Park in her last start. The Love Sign marked her fifth career win from 14 starts and boosted her earnings to nearly $281,000.

Owned by Hardesty Stables and Michael R. Day, Alani was claimed for $75,000 in December and has steadily progressed under her new connections. She paid $6.20 as the third betting choice, while the race’s two favorites—Top Gun Girl and Bourbon Breeze—finished sixth and fifth, respectively.

Longshot Happy Clouds, sent off at nearly 18-1, rallied late to take second, and Admiral Hopper checked in third after a wide trip. The $1 exacta returned $27.20.

The victory, her fourth in seven starts this year, continues a productive 2025 campaign for Alani, and the way she fought off all comers suggests more stakes success could be ahead.