Keen Gets Over the Hump at Gulfstream

Trainer Dallas Keen’s string of bad luck since shipping into Gulfstream Park in the spring came to an end when Katillac Charm ($7.80) powered to a 2 ¾-length victory under Juan Leyva in Thursday’s second race.

"It feels good. We’ve had a lot of seconds and thirds, so it feels really good to win,” said the trainer with 839 winners in a career, primarily coming in Texas and the Southwest.

Keen’s stable, which has produced a healthy 16-percent winning percentage overall in 2014, has gone through a learning curve in its first foray into South Florida racing.

“I think the first horses we ran here were way too inflated for the racing here. They were horses we took for way less in California and thought they’d do really good here,” Keen said. “Some owners wanted to up them (in class), and it was the wrong decision.”

Katillac Charm, who dropped in class for his first Gulfstream start, didn’t return to Keen’s barn on the Gulfstream backstretch following the breakthrough victory, however, having been claimed for $12,500 by owner Frank Calabrese.

Keen, though, is gearing up for a lot more visits to the Gulfstream winner’s circle despite his slow start.

“I want to stay racing here for a while. I’ve brought a lot of extra horses here for Rich Papiese and Midwest (Thoroughbreds). I’m getting those horses ready right now,” Keen said. “So we have a lot of high expectations for Florida.”

Who’s Hot:  Juan Leyva also rode Slynninberg ($6.40) to victory in the 10th, as well as guiding Katillac Charm into the winner's circle for Keen. Leading rider Edgard Zayas rode a pair of winners on the card: Bella Collina ($3.20) in the fourth and Subtle Humor ($14.40) in the seventh. Orlando Bocachica also doubled aboard Determinato ($9) in the first and Midnight Cello ($6) in the featured ninth race.

Rainbow 6 Carryover: $50,000

Source: Gulfstream Park