Seattle Treasure good pickup for Fawkes

South Florida trainer David Fawkes has long been known for possessing a keen eye for searching out runners on the rise and yesterday at Gulfstream Park, he picked out a Treasure Beach colt who appears to fit right in the mold. Fawkes claimed Seattle Treasure for $35,000 out of a mile and one-sixteenth turf race in which the 3-year-old colt overwhelmed the opposition.

Red-hot jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard Seattle Treasure, who had finished third in the Juvenile Turf Stakes at Gulfstream West in November. The colt broke smoothly from the No. 4 post and settled into fifth place along the rail down the backstretch. Midway on the final turn, Ortiz swung him to the outside and in a matter of just a few seconds, Seattle Treasure inhaled the field and galloped away by four widening lengths.

Favored Seattle Treasure had been 1/9 on the first flash of the tote board and eventually went off at even money, paying $4.20. He raised his record to 2-1-2 in eight starts and the $21,000 winner’s share boosted his earnings to $81,405.