‘The Professor’s a good teacher – sets Tapeta record at Gulfstream

The term El Profe has a dual meaning today: First, a professor or teacher of Spanish, and second, the 3-year-old Neolithic colt who won Gulfstream’s sixth race yesterday and lowered the track record for ‘about’ 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta course to 1:04.38.

Gaddiel Martinez was aboard El Profe, who broke slowly from the No. 6 post, but rushed up on the outside going to the first quarter and took the lead with ease, opening up a three-length lead heading into the turn. From there on it was no contest, with El Profe geared down in deep stretch, and winning by 3 1/2 lengths as announcer Peter Aiello took him home with “El Profe wins with something in the tank.”

It was the second victory in three starts for the colt who broke his maiden in a $50,000 maiden claimer at Gulfstream in his debut back on May 6 of last year, and returned after a layoff of 8 1/2 months to finish fourth in January. He paid $9.00 and earned $20,900 yesterday, lifting his total to $51,200, and was claimed out of the race for $20,000.

Across the state at Tampa Bay Downs, Beauty Genius gave Handsome Mike his ninth winner of 2022 in a race at 1 1/16 miles over the turf course. Skyler Spanabel was aboard the 4-year-old filly owned and trained by Ocalan Robert Smith, and she turned in a well-judged ride to earn the winner’s check of $11,195. Beauty Genius was off second in the two path, stayed glued to the pacesetter down the backstretch, powered into the lead on the turn, and proved best by 1 1/4 lengths for her second victory. She was clocked in 1:43.83 and paid $14.40.

The filly bred at Pleasant Acres increased her earnings to $35,579 and added another breeders’ award to a rapidly growing list for Joe and Helen Barbazon.