Peppermint Man cruises by nearly 7 at Gulfstream

Considering he had finished first, second and third in his previous three starts, it was surprising that Peppermint Man was allowed to go off at odds of 3-1 in his latest race at Gulfstream, against only four rivals.

The 4-year-old Neolithic gelding made it look easy under Yolber Torres over a sloppy track, going wire-to-wire via fractions of :22.73, :45.94 and :58.12, opening up by five lengths in the stretch, then coasting home by 6 3/4 in 1:10.91 for the six furlongs. The gelding bred by Dennis Manning paid $8.80 and collected a check for $17,500, increasing his career total to $83,030 on a record of 3-3-1 in 13 starts, with $58,630 coming this year.

Peppermint Man had posted a career best 82 Equibase ‘E’ speed figure in his last victory on April 30, and followed it up with an 81 in his latest.