Gone Astray gelding’s Gulfstream record-breaker is meteoric

Track records for the various distances over the new Tapeta surface at Gulfstream Park have been falling almost weekly, and the Gone Astray gelding Meteorito added his name to the record-breaking list with a stunning performance yesterday.

The 5-year-old bred by the JDAB Stables took off like a shot with Jose Ortiz and held a one-length lead past a quarter in :24.64 and a half in :48.53. Coming to the final turn, Meteorito opened the margin to 2 1/2 lengths, and Ortiz put him on cruise control. The gelding who had finished second in his previous three races scooted away to win by 10 1/2 widening lengths with colorful announcer Pete Aiello proclaiming, “Meteorito has blown this wide open,” followed by “This one is over – it’s been over for a while now,” as the gelding lowered the Tapeta record for ‘about’ 1 1/16 miles to 1:43.63.

In becoming Gone Astray’s 13th winner of 2022, Meteorito paid $5.20 and earned a check for $14,700, increasing his total to $53,870 on a record of 2-5-1 in 16 starts. He earned an Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 90, tied with his prior race for his best ever, and was claimed for the third straight time.