Alley Oop Oop Victorious in Armed Forces
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Second choice Alley Oop Oop stuck his nose in front just in the nick of time to capture the
inaugural running of the Armed Forces Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Unhurried early, Alley Oop Oop under jockey Fernando
Jara used his inside post position to save all the ground despite being in
tight quarters going into the first turn. While Balino did all the leg work on the front end, Jara gradually guided
the 4-year old son of Monsieur Cat off the rail and asked him to pick it up as
the field entered the far turn. By the time the field straightened out for
home, the big bay had found his best stride and all that was left to do was for
him to reel in favored Bad Debt, who
had taken over the lead in mid-stretch. He did just that, stopping the clock in
1.41:45 for the mile and a sixteenth race over a firm turf course.
The official winning margin was a head. Bad Debt picked up
the check for the place, and pacesetting Balino hung on to save the show.
Thanks to a starter bonus put into place by Gulfstream Park President Tim
Ritvo, each owner took home at least a $1,000 check just for running their
horse, even those who earned a share of the purse money. Alley Oop Oop returned
$5.80/$3.00/$2.60, and the exacta comprised of the top two betting choices
returned $15.20 for a $2 bet.
Alley Oop Oop is owned by Jacks or Better Farm, Inc. and trained by Stanley Gold. If the
purple silks with yellow polka dots seem familiar, it is because Jacks or
Better Farm, Inc. also owns multiple graded stakes winner Fort Loudon and multiple stakes winner Awesome Belle, both who do their best running at Calder Race Course
right across town.
Today’s win came five months after what was arguably Alley
Oop Oop’s best career race to date. Back in February, Alley Oop Oop dead heated
with Doubles Partner for second,
just half a length behind winner Swift
Warrior, in the G3 Tampa Bay Stakes. Both Doubles Partner and Swift Warrior
are multiple graded stakes winners. Though not of the graded variety, today’s
win was Alley Oop Oop’s first career stakes victory and his third win of the
season.
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