Two days from turning six, Kentucky-bred Small Hope won at Gulfstream Park yesterday, becoming Treasure Beach’s 43rd winner of 2020 and boosting his sire’s number of winning races in four seasons to an even 200.
The son of Galileo has progeny earnings of $1,578,395 and he’ll wind up as Florida’s sixth-leading sire at midnight tomorrow.
Small Hope had Paco Lopez aboard in the race at 1 1/8 miles over the turf course, and was sent off as a lukewarm 5/2 favorite. The $20,000 Keeneland September yearling was off last in a field of nine, and saved ground along the inside down the backstretch. He angled out in upper stretch, came between horses and took command in mid-stretch and went on to win by three-quarters of a length, clocked in 1:50.38.
Small Hope, bred by the Helen Groves Revocable Trust, earned $14,400 and increased his total to $75,968 on a record of 3-7-3 in 21 starts.
Treasure Beach continues to have great success in Argentina, with group stakes-winner Milione winning at San Isidro on the 23rd, and Sharkan finishing second in the Gr. I Provincia de Buenos Aires at La Plata three days earlier.