Another blockbuster day for Pleasant Acres
After the $62.20 Gulfstream Park debut stunner on Saturday by Brawn (Neolithic), and the $4.20 payoff on Fairhopecurly (Bucchero) at Belterra Park in his first start, it would have been hard to imagine a “Can you top this” day 24 hours later. But Sunday turned out to be something special for Pleasant Acres’ red-hot pair, with Neolithic striking again at Gulfstream Park, and Bucchero hitting a three-bagger at Monmouth Park, Gulfstream and Prairie Meadows.
NELIDA – At 1:51, the 3-year-old filly by Neolithic went wire-to-wire under Leonel Reyes, getting a mile and one-sixteenth on the Tapeta course in 1:44.40 and winning by nearly three lengths. It was just the second start for Nelida, who had finished second in her debut for owner/breeder Just For Fun Stable. She paid $3.40 and earned a check for $17,800, boosting her two-race take to $23,850, but Just For Fun lost her for $25,000.
LOOKIN’ SUPER – At Monmouth Park a little more than an hour later, Lookin’ Super lived up to his name, rallying from eighth and last under Luis Rivera Jr., and winning by 3 1/2 lengths with six furlongs in 1:11.48. It’s the second victory for the 3-year-old gelding, a $25,000 OBS June 2-year-old bred by Pam Edel, and raised his earnings to $39,840 on a record of 2-0-1 in nine starts. He received his best Equibase ‘E’ speed figure, an 85.
FREE SMOKE – While Lookin’ Super was headed back to the barn at Monmouth, Sonny Leon was getting every ounce out of Free Smoke, who was up by a neck to get his second victory at Gulfstream and a payoff of $31.60. The 3-year-old colt bred by Phil and Karen Matthews, a $145,000 OBS April 2-year-old, raced a mile and 70 yards in 1:41.03 on the Tapeta track, and earned a check for $25,800, increasing his total to $85,710 on a record of 2-2-2 in seven starts.
PINK PARTY PANTS – That evening, the 3-year-old daughter of Bucchero carried Walter DeLa Cruz to a 2 1/2-length score with 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.46. Winner of two of her last four at Prairie Meadows, the $40,000 OBS March 2-year-old bred by Dominique Damico now sports a record of 2-1-1 in 12 tries with earnings of $26,395.