Long On Value gelding gives handicappers a devil of a time

Slick handicappers are always quick to judge a trainer whose first-time starter pays off handsomely for a sharp victory after posting a series of mediocre morning trials.

That scenario played out in spades in Gulfstream’s 11th race Saturday, when trainer George Weaver struck with Devil’s Only Friend, a first-timer who gave Long On Value victory No. 3 of 2023, and paid $44.60 in so doing.

The 3-year-old gelding bred by Bulldog Racing had seven Palm Beach Downs works listed, none of them of the kind that would make someone sit up and take notice. But Kevin Krigger sent Devil’s Only Friend to the lead and they battled up front through six furlongs in a quick 1:09.81 before the gelding shook clear in upper stretch and won by nearly two lengths, getting 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass in 1:28.66, less than two seconds off the course record.

The $35,000 OBS March 2-year-old earned $26,800 and a solid Equibase ‘E’ speed figure of 84.