Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Saturday's popular Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park proved to be good to the people at Ocala's Northwest Stud and two of their stallions, surging Gone Astray and unheralded United States, and to a smaller degree, Flashstorm.
The second race was a $65,000 maiden special at five furlongs and it belonged to a first-time starter by United States named U S Diva. Bred by Northwest, the 2-year-old filly was ignored in the wagering even though her work tab looked pretty good; it included a recent 47 4/5 breezing line that was second best of 16 workers. With Jesus Rios aboard, U S Diva went right to the lead at odds of 23-1 and was never headed, scoring by nearly two lengths in :59.50, and paying a juicy $49.40. It was worth $42,000 to owner Sandra Trotter and a breeder's award of $5,000 to Northwest, if my calculations are correct.
Five races later, it was Gone Astray's turn. The son of Dixie Union had a highly successful freshman year in 2015, and has followed that up with an even better one this season. He's in third place on Florida's second-crop sire list and is closing in on $800,000, and on second-place Big Drama. The seventh was the $75,000 Birdonthewire for 2-year-olds at 5 1/2 furlongs. The 6/5 favorite was Three Rules, a colt by Gone Astray owned by co-breeder Shade Tree Thoroughbreds, who had scored an impressive 3 1/2-length victory in his June 10 debut with Cornelio Velasquez getting him home in :58 2/5.
Cornelio had Three Rules placed perfectly behind the leaders early and it was dicey if he was going to find running room when he needed it. But the rail opened up at the top of the stretch and the colt cruised to the lead and was eased up when he crossed the line five lengths in front. The clocking was a good 1:04.50 and the winner's check came to $44,640, bringing Three Rules' earnings to $80,640. If the Dr. Fager was run today, he would probably be 4/5.
In the next race, Bullet Gone Astray was 33-1 in the $150,000, Gr. III Carry Back at seven furlongs. The one-time stakes-winner has been stakes-placed often since, and he added another third this time. Marc Meneses had him way off the early pace and when he rallied in the stretch, he was still well behind winner Rated R Superstar. The $14,700 check increased Bullet Gone Astray's bank account to $152,810.
The one Northwest runner who failed to get 1-2-3 was Flashing Cat, a 4-year-old Flashstorm colt was who racing in an el cheapo, a $6,250 claimer at six furlongs. Samy Camacho did well to find racing room in the stretch, and Flashing Cat closed to within two necks and a head at the wire, and had to settle for fourth by half a length. He was 30-1.
OCALA STUD IS PERFECT - Another leading stallion from Ocala Stud turned in a stellar performance in the third race, the $75,000 Cassidy for 2-year-old fillies. There were eight in the field, and three were by Kantharos, Florida's leading frosh sire two years ago and leading second-crop sire last year. With just his third crop coming to the races recently, the son of Lion Heart is already second on Florida's general sire list behind the unreal - and late- Wildcat Heir. His three runners, Cajun Delta Dawn, Lirica and Perfect Kay, finished 1-2-3, collecting checks of $45,105, $14,550 and $7,275. Cajun Delta Dawn won it by half a length for partners Curtis Mikkelsen and Patricia Horth and is now 2-for-2. The three fillies have a combined record of 4-2-1 in seven starts with earnings of $180,730.
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