Treasure Beach shines on Gulfstream stakes program

Treasure Beach played his part in Gulfstream Park’s 11-stakes program yesterday, with Beach Waltz winning the $60,000 Mrs. Presidentress and Seattle Treasure finishing a fast-closing third in the $60,000 Sage of Monticello, both races contested at about 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

Beach Waltz, the 8/5 favorite, was off well from the No. 1 post and was right with the pace but was forced to steady down the backstretch and dropped back to fourth. Jose Ortiz swung the 3-year-old filly wide for the drive and she proved to be much the best, drawing off to score by 1 1/4 lengths. Beach Waltz, owned by leading owners and breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey and bred by them in Kentucky, earned $35,712 for the victory, bringing her total to $72,222 on a record of 2-2-0 in four starts. She fell a neck short in her previous start, preventing her from being on a three-race winning streak.

Seattle Treasure, at odds of 5-1, had a very eventful trip leaving from the 7 post in his race, beginning with being pinballed leaving the gate by the horses on either side of him. Irad Ortiz Jr. had to take back and the 3-year-old colt was a good 10 lengths behind heading down the backstretch. Ortiz began moving him up coming to the turn and at the top of the stretch swung the colt five wide for the drive. Seattle Treasure was eating up ground and bearing down on the two leaders inside the eighth pole, when the second horse, King Angelus, bore out, bumped him soundly, and pushed him even wider. Ortiz got him going again when King Angelus pushed him out a second time, and Seattle Treasure could only get within a neck of him at the wire. There was no inquiry. Seattle Treasure, stakes-placed for the second time and his sire’s leading money-winner, picked up $5,640 for third and is now 1-2-3 in nine starts with earnings of $87,045.