Classic Rock hits winning note in Gulfstream Park Sprint
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Gulfstream Park
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Classic Rock, returning to stakes company in his seasonal debut off a career-best effort, split horses at the top of the stretch and pulled away to a three-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint at Gulfstream Park.
The 40th running of the 6 ½-furlong Sprint for 4-year-olds and up was the seventh of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $1.5 million on a blockbuster 14-race program anchored by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), marking the sophomore debut of 2017 juvenile male champion Good Magic.
“He ran a great race," noted winning trainer Kathy Ritvo. "Luis rode a perfect race. The horse was ready today. He needed some time after his last race because he had run such a big race. Mr. and Mrs. Reeves gave him the time he needed. They’re perfect owners. He appreciated it.”
“He’s won before when he didn’t have the lead. He’s such a classy, classy horse. He’ll do whatever you ask him to do. He loves this track. He loves it here.”
It was the second career stakes win and first in three tries against graded competition for Classic Rock ($13.20), and the first graded-stakes victory for trainer Kathy Ritvo since Mucho Macho Man in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The winning time was 1:18.32 over a fast main track.
Rock and Fellers, sent off at 15-1, was intent on the lead from far outside Post 11 and took the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.24 seconds with Championship Meet-leading rider Luis Saez chasing along the rail in second and 30-1 long shot Unbridled Outlaw to his outside.
Unbridled Outlaw edged past Classic Rock on the far turn after Rock and Fellers went the half in 45.44 seconds, but Saez was able to duck through an opening between the tiring pacesetter on the inside and Unbridled Outlaw and opened up once he found daylight.
Multiple stakes winner Sweetontheladies finished second at odds of 90-1 by a neck over Eight Town, with Grade 3 winner Mr. Jordan another two lengths back in fourth. Even-money favorite Favorable Outcome finished sixth.
Classic Rock, a $180,000 yearling purchase in September 2015, now owns five wins from six career starts at his home track of Gulfstream including the Roar Stakes last April. Off the board in back-to-back graded attempts in the summer, he rebounded with a front-running 2 ½-length triumph over older horses going six furlongs Dec. 20.
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