Our Way eases past tiring pacesetters in Sunshine Millions Turf
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Photo:
Lauren King
William Clifton Jr.’s Our Way eased past the tiring pacesetters in the stretch to win the Sunshine Millions Turf by a neck over Enterprising Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Our Way, a son of Clifton’s Met Mile winner Tizway, won for the third time in his last four starts and picked up his second stakes victory for trainer H. James Bond. The 4-1 third choice in the wagering covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.81 and paid $10.20.
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez kept the 4-year-old gelding within easy striking distance of the leaders, 8-5 betting favorite Go Around, and Enterprising through soft early fractions of :25.07 and :49.23.
Velazquez moved up to challenge on the outside in the stretch and by the time they had covered the mile in 1:35.75, Our Way was on equal terms and about to take the lead.
"Perfect trip,” Velazquez said. “He broke really well and [Bond] told me he didn't want me too close, but if it's slow enough, get close enough.
He broke well, so it worked out perfect. I didn't have to do anything, I just put my hands down and followed the horse on the lead. He responded when I asked him down the lane."
Our Way won a pair of races at Saratoga last summer with strong moves from farther back. Velazquez was well aware of the pace Saturday and put the 4-year-old making his first start against older horses in a competitive position.
“Johnny is the master of all masters,” Bond said. “If you want a masterful ride on turf, you call Johnny. That was the difference in the race today – Johnny had him in the right spot. There was no pace up front. This horse usually needs a pace to close into, and Johnny had him in the right spot and saved every inch of ground he could.”
Enterprising finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Reporting Star, who was a neck better than Go Around. Starship Zorro, Two Step Time and Beneficiary completed the order of finish.
Our Way broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in Feb. 2016 and finished in the money in his next four races, capped by the Saratoga wins. That streak of success ended on Oct. 23 in a one-turn mile race on a soft course at Belmont Park.
“I don’t think he’s a good one-turn horse. I think he’s a better two-turn horse,” Bond said. “The turf was soft that day, so we threw it out. We brought him down here and pointed him to this race. We freshened him up at Palm Meadows. My son Ryan, my assistant down here in South Florida, did a fantastic job and had him ready.”
Source: Gulfstream Park
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