Turf News

Brethren solidified his hold on second place behind Treasure Beach in the Florida freshman sire standings when Dunk destroyed the field in a $50,000 maiden special at 5 1/2 furlongs at Gulfstream Park yesterday. Emisael Jaramillo was aboard Dunk for the first time after the colt had finished third in his previous two starts for Arindel, and the talented rider handled the 8/5 favorite to perfection. Dunk tracked the leader in second place for a quarter of a mile, rolled up on the outside to take over on the turn, and ran away and hid in the stretch, cruising to the finish in 1:04.82, nearly nine lengths in front. Dunk became his sire’s third winner and the $34,000 check raised his earnings to $42,400, at the same time lifting Brethren’s progeny earnings to $102,400.

When Poseidon’s Warrior gained his first winner at Monmouth Park in June, track announcer Frank Mirahmadi bellowed in deep stretch, “Firenze Fire wins from here to Florida.” Mirahmadi went one better on Friday as Vino was splashing through the mud toward his debut victory in a $36,000 maiden special at five furlongs, giving Treasure Beach his fourth winner. “It’s a one-horse race,” Mirahmadi roared. “Vino in a sparkling performance – he absolutely crushes.”

The colt owned and bred by Mr. Amore Stables broke on top from the No. 4 post, then held off four challengers through a quarter in :22.39 and a half in :45.96. At the top of the stretch, Paco Lopez had Vino in cruise control and the pair widened the margin through the lane, galloping under the wire 7 1/2 lengths in front while clocked in :57.80.

Vino collected $21,600 for the victory and lifted Treasure Beach’s progeny earnings to $160,132. The son of Galileo is running away with the Florida freshman sire race and has moved into fourth place nationally, just $6,187 away from Spendthrift Farm’s Jimmy Creed, who is second.

Treasure Beach was the first Florida freshman sire to get two winners, then three, and now he has the distinction of getting the first stakes-placed runner. Tigerbeach, who became his sire’s first winner at Indiana Grand on May 23, finished third yesterday in the $112,000 Victoria Stakes at Woodbine. The 2-year-old colt sat off the pace in the five-furlong race under Rafael Hernandez, had to steady briefly to keep from clipping heels on the backstretch, and was coming on late to get up for third, just three-quarters of a length from second. Tigerbeach has now earned $34,977 in his short career.