Mattingly hits a homer in maiden-breaker at Gulfstream

After Mattingly finished a strong second in the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes in his career debut, anticipation was high regarding the second start for the 2-year-old Bucchero colt. That came yesterday in a 5 1/2-furlong, $65,000 maiden special over the Tapeta course at Gulfstream Park.

Through much of the betting, the $70,000 OBS March colt bred by Lance Colwell was sitting at 1/5 on the tote board, and he eventually drifted up slightly to 2/5. With Edgar Perez aboard, the colt named after former New York Yankees great Don Mattingly took the lead leaving the gate, put up fractions of :22.11, 45.59 and :58.11, then cruised home by nearly six lengths in 1:04.38.

Mattingly became Bucchero’s 23rd winner and earned a check for $43,000, while boosting his two-race total to $64,120, and showed he’ll be a major factor in the upcoming Florida Sire Stakes series.