Eye of a Jedi defends title in Gulfstream's Sea of Tranquility

Owner/trainer Steve Budhoo thought Eye of a Jedi looked like a winner from start to finish in his successful title defense in Saturday’s $60,000 Sea of Tranquility at Gulfstream Park.

“He always seemed to break slow and spot the field five lengths, but, this time, he broke good. I knew it was all over,” Budhoo said.

Eye of a Jedi ($9.80), who captured the one-turn mile Coaltown Handicap in his most recent start, was the recipient of a dream trip under Hector Berrios in the 1 1/16-mile overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

After breaking alertly from the starting gate, Eye of a Jedi rated nicely off the early pace set by favored Red Crescent while saving ground in fourth.

Along the backstretch Berrios edged to the outside to mount a wide rally on the far turn. The 5-year-old gelding swept past stalking Kukulkan and Red Crescent at the top of the stretch and continued gamely to hold off a late-closing Noble Drama by a half-length.

“He’s a tough horse, and he’s sound,” Budhoo said. “He keeps getting better and better. Age is just a number.”

Eye of a Jedi ran 1 1/16 miles over a muddy track in 1:43.80. Noble Drama finished 1¾ lengths ahead of Red Crescent, who finished second behind Eye of a Jedi in last year’s Sea of Tranquility.

Harvey Wallbanger, who captured the 2019 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream, was never a factor in a sixth-place finish.