Another Three-Bagger for Pleasant Acres Stallions

Pleasant Acres celebrated another of those special Saturdays with a pair of winners at Gulfstream Park and one at Lone Star, all by different sires.

GONE ASTRAY – The son of Dixie Union had the honor of having one of his offspring welcome back jockey Sonny Leon, who got his U. S. start campaigning at Gulfstream in what seems like eons ago, and who now returns as the winner of the Kentucky Derby aboard Rich Strike. Leon had four mounts on his first day back in Hallandale Beach, and won with his second try with She’s Classy in the fourth race.

Leon got winner No. 30 for Gone Astray this year, and the first victory for She’s Classy since Aug. 6 of 2020 at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old filly bred by Craig Wheeler was off third in the race at five furlongs over the Tapeta surface, eased back to fourth on the rail, found room between horses at the top of the stretch and was able to prevail late by half a length. She was clocked in :59.16, paid $6.40 and raised her record to 2-3-8 in 20 tries. The $13,500 winner’s check increased her total to $63,665.

RIDE ON CURLIN – Ailsa Morrison, one of the ultra-talented group of female riders competing at Gulfstream this year, went wire-to-wire with J R’s Pride, a 2-year-old colt who was breaking his maiden in start No. 3. The colt bred by DeLuca & Sons Stables zipped past the markers in :21.89 and :45.60, completing the five furlongs in :59.04 and 1 3/4 lengths in front. The $47,000 OBS March 2-year-old paid $7.20 and collected a check for $19,600. Ride On Curlin has 10 winners from only 22 starters thus far this season.

NEOLITHIC – Secret Holiday, a 3-year-old colt who didn’t race at two, broke his maiden at Lone Star in his sixth start after getting two seconds and a third in his first five. The $10,500 OBS June 2-year-old also made every pole a winning one with Anardis Rodriguez aboard, and paid $13.80. He won the $33,000 maiden special at six furlongs by a head in 1:12.58 and the check for $19,680 upped his bank account to $33,717.