Freshman earnings title settled by ‘a matter of inches’

How many times have we heard – in every sport – that the game is often determined by “a matter of inches.” On the final day of the 2017 racing season, determining the leading Florida freshman sire with respect to progeny earnings turned out to be a matter of inches, exactly the way one Pleasant Acres stallion edged out another for the important title.

Poseidon’s Warrior came into closing day with earnings of $589,958; Treasure Beach was $7,919 behind with $582,039. With New Year’s Eve approaching, Poseidon’s Warrior picked up his sixth winner when Jacks a Warrior broke his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs in his third start in 32 days. Shannon Uske settled the gelding close to the pace, sent him up three wide on the turn, shifted to the rail for the stretch run and Jacks a Warrior exploded for a four-length victory. The $8,100 winner’s share raised the stallion’s earnings to $598,058.

At the same time, Treasure Beach had Seattle Treasure competing in a $35,000 claimer at Gulfstream Park, with Miguel Vasquez in the irons. First place in the one-mile grass race was worth $21,800, second place $5,880. Vasquez made a valiant run through the stretch with his colt, only to fall a head short of Espresso Caliente at the wire. The earnings title was determined by a matter of inches. The runner-up check boosted Treasure Beach’s total to $588,439, but the extra $15,920 for a victory would have given him the title over his stablemate.

(Stakes-placed Seattle Treasure was claimed out of the race for the $35,000 tag, and is 1-1-2 in six starts with earnings of $59,055).