Treasure Beach vaults past $1 million mark

Treasure Beach needed just $232 Thursday to pass $1 million in 2020 progeny earnings. He reached that after his first runner hit the finish line early in the day, so victories by Sand Drift at Gulfstream Park and Calypso Key at Arlington later in the afternoon just added to his bottom line.

Sand Drift is one of her sire’s late bloomers. In her first seven career starts, the 4-year-old filly bred by Leverett and Linda Miller posted one victory, no seconds and no thirds. After yesterday’s score, she has compiled a record of 3-3-3 in her last nine starts dating back to July of 2019.

With Edgard Zayas aboard, Sand Drift sat off the early pace, then ran over the field in the stretch to win by seven lengths with 1 1/16 miles on the grass in 1:41.45. She paid $6 and earned a check for $15,400, raising her total to $88,520.

Calypso Key, bred and owned by Firefly Farm Racing, was also a slow starter. In her first five efforts she didn’t hit the board; in her last five, she’s 2-1-1, including victories in two of her last three for trainer David Flores, the former top-flight jockey. Also racing 1 1/6 miles on the turf, the 5-year-old mare sat second with Logan Cormier, took over heading into the lane and held on to win by a neck in 1:46.91. She paid $11.80.

Treasure Beach ended the day with $1,029,539 in 2020 earnings and in seventh place on Florida’s leading sire list.