HALLANDALE BEACH - Coming off a heart-breaking loss in the Showing Up Stakes after opening a lead in the stretch last time out, Kevin Doyle’s Layabout held on to late to eke out a narrow victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park.

    The 50th running of the Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, co-headlined Saturday’s 11-race program with the $125,000 Tropical Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies won by Destino d’Oro ($9.60).

    Ridden by Junior Alvarado for the first time, Layabout ($7.40) was the beneficiary of a perfectly judged trip to prevail by a nose and collect his second stakes victory and fourth career triumph in nine starts.

    Roar of the Beast was sent to the lead after an alert start to show the way around the first turn and into the backstretch, pressed by Tank with Simulate and Layabout a few lengths farther back. Roar of the Beast and Tank continued to lead the pack into the far turn after completing the first half mile in 47.70 seconds but began to show signs of weakening entering the turn into the homestretch. As Tank took over approaching the stretch, Layabout loomed as the most serious threat with Church and State making a brief run to his outside.

    Tank turned for home with the lead but had no answer for Layabout’s stretch drive. Layabout opened up in mid-stretch but had to hold off the fresh challenge of Tiz Dashing to eke out the victory.

    “I had a great trip. I was sitting where I wanted to. The only thing was a couple guys on the outside – I don’t know who it was – made kind of an early move on the outside, so it made me move a little earlier than I wanted to,” Alvarado said. “I have to say he was much the best today. If I didn’t have to make that move that early, he probably would have won a little easier.”

    After joining trainer Patrick Biancone’s stable after finishing off the board in three starts on dirt during the 2024-2025 Championship Meet, the 3-year-old gelded son of Laoban broke his maiden on Tapeta, won an allowance and the Bear’s Den on turf.  He closed with a rush to finish less than two lengths off the winner while fourth in the $2 million Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs before losing the Showing Up by a half-length.

    “He’s a very good horse. He’s still immature. He was difficult initially, but we found the key and the jockey rode him very well,” Biancone said. “As long as he’s on the outside, he’s good.” Layabout ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.73 over a firm turf course.

    “I hope they invite him for the Pegasus,” said Biancone, referring to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Jan. 24. “Our plan was to go to Saudi or Dubai after. Step 1 was this race. Step 2 is the Pegasus and if everything goes well we’ll see.”

    Tiz Dashing, who was coming off a win in the Hill Prince (G3) at Aqueduct, finished a half-length ahead of Tank, who held gamely for third. Chapman’s Peak, the 3-2 favorite, finished fifth. comments powered by Disqus