Conquest Big E tops Always Dreaming in Gulfstream's Hardacre Mile
Graded stakes placed entering the weekend, Conquest Big E’s now a graded stakes winner. And he upset last year’s Kentucky Derby winner to do it.
The gray son of Tapit put in a front-running effort to take the Grade 2, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile on Saturday's Florida Derby undercard.
Always Dreaming followed the winner every step of the way but didn’t threaten late, finishing three lengths back in his first start since running ninth in the Aug. 26 Travers Stakes.
“I thought he ran well first time off a layoff," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "Gulfstream can be a tricky track when a horse gets loose like that. We got the trip we were hoping for. We got a nice clean trip. I thought he fell into a good rhythm and ran steadily. The horse on the lead never came back."
The winner went off at 12-1 with Always Dreaming bet down to 9-5.
A 4-year-old by Bodemeister, Always Dreaming was shut down last year after a serious case of ulcers was discovered following the Travers. Saturday, Always Dreaming avoided a speed duel, but didn't see a lightly pressured leader come back to him.
“It was a positive effort," Pletcher said. "A mile is a tough distance to start off a layoff. We gave a way a lot of recency to pretty much the whole field. I know the horse that won had a couple troubled trips here. He was a horse I was concerned about shaking loose. The main focus for us was to get a positive start.”
As for Conquest Big E, who ran on the 2016 Derby trail, he’s now trained by Donna Green Hurtack for owner Daniel Hurtack. His record improved to 5-2-1 in 20 starts.
The final time was 1:35.92 for the one-turn mile.