Private Thoughts nets 3 victories in a row for Romanik & Spatz, 3 breeders’ awards for the Barbazons

On Sept. 13, the 2-year-old Nyquist colt Argos hit the jackpot, winning the Gr. I, $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes for long-time Ocala owner and breeder David Romanik, who was on hand for the race at Woodbine. The winning purse was $216,675 in U. S. funds.

An hour later, Romanik and his partner, trainer Ron Spatz, struck at Gulfstream Park with Private Thoughts, the red-hot 4-year-old gelding by Neolithic who returned from a 9-month vacation and won his second in a row under Leonel Reyes. The winners’ share of the purse in the $57,000 allowance optional claimer was $34,200.

Private Thoughts made it three straight this week, Reyes guiding him to a head victory in the $70,000 Jet Propulsion Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The $11,000 OBS March 2-year-old bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon paid $8.40 after getting the distance in 1:39.73, less than two seconds off the course record. He raised his record to 7-2-2 in 15 starts, and the check for $41,500 increased his lifetime total to $263,274. His Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 106 is a career best.