HALLANDALE BEACH - Private Thoughts, a 4-year-old gelding co-owned by attorney David Romanik and trainer Ron Spatz, continued to show Saturday why he is one of the most consistent campaigners at Gulfstream Park, drawing away from seven others to win the $100,000 Saint Augustine handicap.

    A son of Neolithic who was purchased as a 2-year-old for $11,000, Private Thoughts was guided three-wide around the final turn by jockey Tyler Gaffalione before winning, while covering the 1 1/16 miles Tapeta course in 1:40.50.

    For Private Thoughts, it was his eighth victory in 18 starts,  and the winner's check of $59,500 increased his bankroll to $359,474. In his last eight starts, Private Thoughts has five wins and three seconds.

    “So consistent. Such a lovely horse,” Spatz said. “He’s in good form, probably better today than his last four starts.”

    Beaten by less than a length in his last two starts – the Sabal Palm on Tapeta and Empire Builder on turf – Private Thoughts raced fifth behind Sabal Palm winner Prevent, another son of Neolithic who was pressed by No More Options through early fractions of :22.97, :46.58 and 1:09.81. Once Gaffalione moved three-wide around the turn with Private Thoughts, there was no catching the gelding.

    “Prevent got away with [a slower pace] last time,” Spatz said. “Today he had company. It made all the difference. The very first part of the race he was a little farther back than normal, but I saw the hook up on the front and I was good with it.” While Prevent tired to finish sixth this time, a third Neolithic, Brawn, finished third, earned $10,600, and has a career bank account of $191,773.

    Spatz said the $100,000 Carousel on Pegasus World Cup Day Jan. 24 could be the next test for Private Thoughts, who was bred at Pleasant Acres by Joe and Helen Barbazon. comments powered by Disqus