Purchased for $4,000, Gone Astray gelding put the past behind him in Laurel debut

It took owner Carl L. Hess Jr. just one race to realize what a bargain he got when he purchased Putthepastbehind as a yearling for $4,000 at the OBS winter sale in 2021.

The 2-year-old Gone Astray gelding broke his maiden in his career debut at Laurel Park yesterday and earned a check for $30,360, while giving his sire the distinction of being the first in North America to get two juvenile winners in 2022. The stallion by Dixie Union previously saw Luna West score at Gulfstream Park in April.

Putthepastbehind broke well under Jeiron Barbosa and tracked the pacesetter in second through a :23.15 quarter. As they neared the half, the gelding bred by Dancing Wind Stables closed the gap, took the lead in mid-stretch and held it to the wire, winning by three-quarters of a length, clocked in :52.90 for the 4 1/2 furlongs. He paid $17.80 and became the 19th winner this year for Gone Astray, who is fourth on Florida’s leading sire list with progeny earnings of $690,481.