Amira’s Prince gelding nets $58 for handicappers and breeders’ award for Pleasant Acres

In his first five career starts, Pluma Roja had the services of four different jockeys, never raced longer than six furlongs, and never finished better than sixth. At Gulfstream Park yesterday, trainer Nestor Cascallares made two changes – he picked new rider Jose Morelos to take the 2-year-old gelding a mile and 70 yards over the Tapeta surface. Result: Pluma Roja looked like a different horse.

The son of Amira’s Prince was away fifth on the inside down the backstretch and remained there until the turn. A good eight or nine lengths behind midway on the turn, Pluma Roja appeared to have no chance to even make the board. But he put it in another gear and closed a huge gap, then remained on the rail in the stretch and ran over the leaders to win by a neck, clocked in 1:42.99. He paid $58.

Pluma Roja became the eighth winner from 11 starters for Amira’s Prince, earning a check for $14,700 and getting another breeders’ award for Joe and Helen Barbazon.