Almanaar gets a grade one in Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap

As is often the case in turf racing, the horse that gets the best trip gets the victory, and so it was in the $350,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) when jockey Joel Rosario and Almanaar (GB) swept down the middle of the track to win by three-quarters of a length. The Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap is the first grade one stake of the year in the Male Turf division which stands to be wide open with the retirement of the 2016 Champion Flintshire.

Everything went right for Almanaar in this nine-furlong event. He broke alertly and relaxed in sixth place, four lengths behind in the early going, while the pacesetters Beach Patrol and Eirigh carved out fast fractions. Behind the leaders was the trio of War Correspondent on the rail, favorite Divisidero was widest of the three, and Lukes Alley felt pressure on both sides running between horses. The fractions were 23.59, 47.08, and 1:10.23.

Almanaar had plenty of space in the early going in which to relax. After the spirited six furlongs, Rosario pointed the son of Dubawi to outside and they quickly moved into contention as they navigated the final turn. Once they straightened for the finish, Almanaar was moving effortlessly and took the lead with ease. The pace was too much for Eirigh; however, Beach Patrol was tired, but game. War Correspondent, who was 22-1, and All Included 15-1 were both making closing moves and battled for the place with Beach Patrol.

All Included would prevail for second while Beach Patrol and War Correspondent bumped causing a Steward’s Inquiry. The head-on showed that jockey Florent Geroux’s vigorous left-handed whip caused the weary Beach Patrol to veer from the rail towards War Correspondent. Geroux straightened out Beach Patrol, went to the stick again, but this time they clearly banged into War Correspondent and interfered with his progress. As a result Beach Patrol was placed behind War Correspondent. The official order of finish was Almanaar, All Included, War Correspondent, and Beach Patrol.

Almanaar began his career racing in France for Shadwell Stable, where he managed to win two group three races in a row in 2015. He was sent to the United States and joined the barn of trainer Chad Brown and could not win in two allowance tries at Belmont Park in the fall of 2016. He came back with a big effort to run second in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream before breaking through with today’s grade one victory.

“I thought he ran great,” said Brown. “We figured the added distance would help. He ran a great race over this course in the Fort Lauderdale. He got a good pace setup today and Joel rode him great once again. He’s a horse that needed some racing. He tends to be a heavy horse, so I think having a recent race helped him. He’s a little thinner and like I said the added distance really helped him.”

On the toteboard, Almanaar, who was the third betting choice at 3-1, paid $8.00, 4.40, and 3.20 across the board. The $2 exacta with All Included returned a solid $103.80 and the 50¢ trifecta with War Correspondent paid $223.35.

For Brown and Rosario, this was their first victory each in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. Almanaar’s career stats increased to 13: 5-3-2 with earnings that nearly doubled to $431,849.

“Everything is in play for these two horses [Almanaar and his stablemate, Beach Patrol] — the Woodford Reserve on Derby Day at Churchill is a Grade 1 I have interest in with both these horses,” Brown said. “Down the road, there are races like the Manhattan at a mile and a quarter. Beach Patrol is already proven at a mile and a quarter in the Secretariat. There are lots of options. Hopefully, they stay healthy.”